The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has expressed support for the investigation led by the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP) concerning the 2015 privatization of 61% of TAP’s capital, urging swift results.
The party notes that signs of criminal activities during TAP’s privatization process have long been highlighted by the PCP and are well-documented in the parliamentary inquiry’s conclusions and a General Inspectorate of Finance audit.
“While it’s crucial to investigate crimes associated with the 2015 privatization and TAP’s private management between 2015 and 2019, uncovering the full truth, punishing responsible parties, and recovering public funds, it is even more important to learn from this process,” the party states.
The PCP emphasizes that the “first and foremost conclusion” from this investigation is the need to halt repeated privatization attempts of TAP.
“Privatization has been the main destabilizing factor for TAP over the past 30 years. The government should abandon the privatization project, set new goals for the national airline, and focus on enhancing TAP’s contribution to the national economy,” the party argues.
TAP, the Barraqueiro Group, and Parpública are currently under investigation by the police, with media reports alleging criminal activities connected to the 2015 privatization.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed last September that it received the General Inspectorate of Finance’s report regarding TAP’s 2015 privatization, sending it to the DCIAP for investigation.
This inquiry was launched in February 2023 following a report by then-Finance and Infrastructure Ministers Fernando Medina and Pedro Nuno Santos.
In October 2022, Pedro Nuno Santos disclosed that TAP executives ordered an audit suspecting overpayment for planes, and the government forwarded the findings to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The Airbus funds were a focal point in the 2023 Parliamentary Inquiry Committee into TAP’s Management Political Oversight. A deal by DGN, under David Neeleman, with Airbus involved canceling a former lease of 12 A350 aircraft and signing a new contract for 53 planes of a different model.
As part of this arrangement, Airbus provided capital credits worth $226.75 million (€195.5 million at current exchange rates) to DGN to be routed to TAP through Atlantic Gateway.
