Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced early Friday afternoon that the new documents requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) regarding the company Spinumviva are intended “to complete” those already submitted “before the summer.”
Speaking to journalists as he left the Porto Social Forum, the Head of Government confirmed the request, as disclosed by the Prosecutor General of the Republic, Amadeu Guerra, in an interview with “Nascer do Sol,” adding that it is merely to “complement the information” he had forwarded “even before the summer, to the process.”
When asked about the type of documents requested by the MP, Montenegro stated that he should not be revealing such details. “It’s internal information of the process,” he noted, asserting, however, that it is not “anything major.”
“I will take this afternoon [Friday, September 19] to gather the requested documents and will do so as quickly as possible,” he added.
Regarding the fact that the process remains open, Luís Montenegro acknowledged that, “naturally,” his desire is for the documents “to be capable of concluding the assessment currently underway and for the matter to be closed.”
“We should all wish—for all processes—that they proceed quickly. Speed is part of the concept of a fair decision,” he remarked.
On this Friday, “Nascer do Sol” published an interview with Prosecutor General Amadeu Guerra, revealing that the MP requested more documents this week from Luís Montenegro regarding the family company Spinumviva.
Recall that the Spinumviva case led to the downfall of the first Democratic Alliance (AD) Government following a vote of no confidence, which forced the country into early elections.
The controversy surrounding Spinumviva arose from news reported by Correio da Manhã stating that the company was involved, among other activities, in real estate transactions. This information coincided with reports on companies and assets owned by government members in the real estate sector at a time when the government was reviewing land laws, potentially impacting the valuation of land and houses.
The news of Spinumviva’s business activities sparked debate about the prime minister’s potential professional activities parallel to his governmental role, the identity of the company’s clients, and possible conflicts of interest.
Luís Montenegro, who declined to identify the company’s clients amid the controversy, rejected any influence over his activities, insisting he severed ties with his stake in June 2022 by transferring his share to his wife, raising questions about the act’s validity, given that experts suggest the marital property regime could nullify it.
An “Expresso” news report revealed that the company had a monthly retainer of 4,500 euros with the Solverde group, owners of hotels and casinos. Solverde subsequently announced the termination of its contract with Spinumviva.
Following three complaints received by the Prosecutor General’s Office, the MP initiated a preventive inquiry into the prime minister’s family company, aiming to determine if there are grounds for a criminal investigation.
The preventive inquiry was confirmed by the Prosecutor General on March 12, a day after the fall of Luís Montenegro’s government, which did not survive the rejection of a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
Despite this controversy, on May 18 this year, Portuguese voters returned to the polls and re-elected the AD to govern, displaying confidence in Luís Montenegro.
