The mayor of Porto said that “he has no conflict with the Government” about decentralization, assuring that the existing conflict is with the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), to whom he reiterated his criticism.

“Our problem in this matter is with the ANMP. We warned them that they couldn’t negotiate budget issues on our behalf, but they did anyway. Being so, let out [da Associação]. They will not negotiate anything else on behalf of Porto.”Rui Moreira said.

The mayor, who on Thursday night participated in a debate in Póvoa de Varzim on regionalization and decentralization, recalled that his municipality’s decision was made “not because of the inability to negotiate [da ANMP]but because the association has appropriated something that belongs to the Municipal Bodies of Porto, which represent the citizens”.

“The association knew that it could not compromise the principle of budgetary neutrality provided for in the law, but ‘put the foot in the green,’” said Rui Moreira.

The mayor revealed that the government intended to hold a meeting to discuss the departure of the ANMP from the Port, but stated that the meeting did not take place.

The Minister of Social Cohesion [Ana Abrunhosa] He told me that he would like to meet me and the Minister of Education. I was careful to ask her if she could say publicly that this meeting would take place and she said yes. But it seems that they were offended by my disclosure of this information. Or maybe some association didn’t want that to happen. There was no meeting”, guaranteed the mayor of Porto.

Rui Moreira pointed out that more municipalities, apart from Porto, are considering the decision of the ANMP, considering that the lack of understanding with this entity, on the issue of decentralization and the delegation of powers, “there are only the Câmaras do Norte, but of all the country”.

“I recently read that the mayors of Coimbra and Arganil said that they admitted having left the ANMP. It is not only in the Porto metropolitan area that there are municipalities that think like this, it is throughout the country”, she stressed.

Rui Moreira finds it “natural” to foster alliances with foreign airlines

Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, considered it “perfectly natural” for Turismo de Portugal to encourage partnerships with foreign airlines, specifically with the Spanish Iberia, to the detriment of TAP.

The mayor of Porto considered that Luís Simões, president of the Instituto do Turismo de Portugal, showed “seriousness” by having promoted, in a meeting with agents from the Northa greater commitment to the Iberia service, compared to that offered by the Portuguese flag carrier TAP at the Francisco Sá Carneiro airport.

Luís Simões “is certainly concerned about the sector throughout the country, and not just in Lisbon. I see no reason for scandal or disturbance. He showed seriousness in saying what is evident”, said Rui Moreira.

The mayor of Porto, who on Thursday night participated in a debate, in Póvoa de Varzim, on regionalization and decentralization, considered that, “if those responsible for TAP say that the strategy does not go through Porto, it is necessary to look for other solutions ” .

“Iberia could be one of those solutions. Along with British Airways, they have a huge network covering destinations in the United States, South America and Africa. After Lisbon, Madrid is the center the closer we are, and much bigger”, analyzed Rui Moreira.

The mayor of the ‘undefeated city’ recalled that several foreign flag carriers, not only low cost“They say that flying to Porto is good business, but TAP keeps saying it’s not profitable.”

“We do not give subsidies to these companies. [estrangeiras] we provide the service in Porto, but we continue to subsidize TAP so that it continues to be Lisbon’s ‘hub’. We have to question what will be better and cheaper for the country,” he added.

Rui Moreira pointed out, even so, the need for Porto airport has direct flights to some strategic destinationsspecifically to New York, in the United States, and shared that the Government is open to supporting airlines that provide this service.

“We are working on it and the minister [das Infraestruturas] Pedro Nuno Santos said that it is available to support, as long as we find interested companies. And I think we will find it”, concluded Rui Moreira.