The former Minister of Economy, António Pires de Lima, told Lusa that he is not afraid of any clarification on the privatization of TAP, and pointed out that everything that was done “is scrutinized and explainable” from the knowledge of the current Government.
The leader of the socialist bench, Eurico Brilhante Dias, announced this Thursday that the PS parliamentary group will “immediately” invite the former Minister of Economy and former Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Sérgio Monteiro to explain the preparation of the privatization operation of TAP.
“I am not afraid of any clarification, everything that was done in that period of 2014, 2015, is scrutinized, has its justification, is explainable and more: the current government knows it, at least since 2016 or 2017, when the government completed the nationalization of the company,” said Pires de Lima.
By the way, “there is absolutely no new data that did not justify this trip to parliament several years ago, if it is considered so important,” the official continued.
But, “having said that, I will gladly go to parliament and in the sense, obviously, of seeking to clarify any doubts that may exist on the part of the members of the Assembly of the Republic”, reinforced António Pires de Lima, who was Minister of Economy between 2013 and 2015, in the Government headed by Pedro Passos Coelho.
Pires de Lima also expressed “some surprise” that an investigation commission was formed “to evaluate the political management and the management of TAP itself in the period 2020 to 2022” and was later convened by the Socialist Party (PS) for clarifications. outside of this time window.
“It is curious and a little surprising that the next day [à criação da comissão parlamentar de inquérito] the leader of the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party, whom I obviously respect, understands that the priority is to listen to two political leaders who have nothing to say, I suppose, about this period covered by the commission”, commented the former minister.
Therefore, “I will be called to parliament, outside of this commission of inquiry, in a demonstration that clearly seems to me to be intended to distract people from the commission of inquiry that was approved for the period 2020-2022 and that will take office next week”. , based on what I found out,” he continued.
The parliamentary commission of investigation on the political control of the management of TAP, proposed by the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), will take office on February 22.
“The deputies and the Assembly of the Republic know the enormous respect I have for that house and, therefore, if, in fact, the parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party group believes that my clarifications can be useful about what happened in TAP, many years ago, nine years ago, or on any other more recent matter, I will be happy, at an opportune date, to go to the Economy Commission and put myself at the service of the deputies”, concluded António Pires de Lime.
Former Secretary of State Sérgio Monteiro also told Lusa this Friday that he was “obviously available” to provide all the clarifications that the deputies deem necessary on the privatization of TAP, and said that he was interested in the matter being “discussed”.
TAP: Sérgio Monteiro “obviously available” for all clarifications
Source: Observadora
