“What I think is relevant here is that we continue to have in the country a Prime Minister under suspicion of serious crimes. These are serious crimes concerning the integrity of public office, but as far as we know, at least from what has been revealed, much of this situation has been prolonged by the Prime Minister himself,” he accused.
Speaking to reporters in Sabugal, in the district of Guarda, on the sidelines of a local election campaign event, the leader of Chega was questioned about news reported on Tuesday that prosecutors responsible for the preventive investigation into Spinumviva believe a criminal inquiry should be opened against the Prime Minister, to be decided by the Attorney General.
André Ventura stated that if the news published in recent hours is true, “it also shows that the Prime Minister either has not sent the information requested in time or often makes a point of not sending information, whether to the Judicial Police or the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
“This means we have a measure, which is exceptional, the preventive investigation, being prolonged over time, which probably doesn’t happen with any other defendant, which probably doesn’t happen in any other situation,” he indicated, questioning if it will remain “indefinitely open.”
The Chega president also asserted that “the authorities must ensure that the treatment being given to Luís Montenegro is not unequal or any privilege compared to everyone else.”
André Ventura argued that “the Portuguese also want to avoid a scenario of permanent turbulence,” but that cannot mean providing anyone, whoever they are, with special protection, and that the Prime Minister himself must adopt this proactive attitude.
“Thus, the Prime Minister will remain under suspicion, which is bad for him, but democracy also remains on hold without achieving justice. It’s a kind of denial of justice resulting from the actions of the Prime Minister himself,” he considered.
When questioned about the commission of inquiry he admitted proposing regarding the Spinumviva case, André Ventura said today that “it is still time for those involved to provide clarifications.”
“If in this case the suspicions are known, the Prime Minister can do so and has not yet chosen to,” he considered, indicating that the decision to proceed or not depends on “the responses the Prime Minister is able to provide.”
“We are being confronted with other elements, now regarding holidays and the use of public funds, I mean, this is something that must be denied immediately,” he stressed, pointing out that “there was no clarification of the facts” from Luís Montenegro, urging the Prime Minister to provide those explanations publicly.
Ventura also stated that he has no regrets about Chega forcing a commission of inquiry into the fires, even though he cannot do so again until the next legislative session next year.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister expressed being “stunned and outraged” by the news reported about the Spinumviva case and even referred to it as a “disgrace,” stating he awaits the “analysis and judgment of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.”
The Attorney General’s Office clarified that the preventive investigation related to the company Spinumviva is ongoing, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office is still awaiting documentation, so the investigation continues.
“There is, therefore, at this moment, no formed conviction that allows the closure of the said preventive investigation, nor has anything been proposed to the Attorney General in this domain,” states a communiqué from the Attorney General’s Office.
[Updated at 1:58 PM]
