The former MEP and presidential candidate Ana Gomes defended this Thursday that Pedro Nuno Santos leaves the Government with “seriousness, conviction and dignity” and “in time to revitalize the PS.”
“Pedro Nuno Santos is leaving, as he has always been in the Government: with seriousness, conviction and dignity. And with ambition for the country. In time to revitalize the Socialist Party, I hope.” he wrote Socialist Ana Gomes on the social network Twitter.
The PNS leaves, as it has always been in the Government: with seriousness, conviction and dignity. And with ambition for the country. In time to revitalize the @psocialistaWait.
—Ana Gomes (@AnaMartinsGomes) December 29, 2022
In the campaign for the presidential elections, in January 2021, Ana Gomes promised to encourage Pedro Nuno Santos to run for the leadership of the Socialists when the succession of António Costa is proposed.
Considering that the support of the now ex-minister for his presidential candidacy was “very important”, Ana Gomes added at the time: “Of course I will be one of the people who will encourage Pedro Nuno Santos, when one day the leadership of the PS opens, to advance. I think we need young, courageous people with vision, knowledge of the economic and social fabric of the country and with dynamism”.
The resignation of Pedro Nuno Santos was announced on Wednesday night, following the case of compensation of half a million euros received by the Secretary of State Alexandra Reis when she left TAP.
The departure of the Minister of Infrastructure from the Government comes 24 hours after the Minister of Finance, Fernando Medina, dismissed the Secretary of State for Finance, less than a month after Alexandra Reis took office and after four days of controversy over the compensation of 500 thousand euros paid by TAP, supervised by Pedro Nuno Santos.
António Costa did not see the need to leave Pedro Nuno Santos
“Given public perception and the collective feeling generated around” the TAP case, Pedro Nuno Santos decided to “assume political responsibility and present his resignation”, already accepted by the Prime Minister, António Costa, said in a statement released on Wednesday . in the afternoon by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing.
The statement also adds that, “after the explanations given by TAP, which led the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing and the Minister of Finance to send the process to the CMVM for their consideration. [Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários] and the IGF [Inspeção-Geral de Finanças]the Secretary of State for Infrastructures [Hugo Santos Mendes] He decided, given the circumstances, to present his resignation.”
Alexandra Reis received compensation of half a million euros for leaving early, in February, the position of executive administrator of the airline, when she still had to serve for two years and, in June, she was appointed by the Government to the presidency of Navegação Portuguese Air Force (NAV). This month she was elected Secretary of State for Finance.
The decision to compensate Alexandra Reis was criticized by the entire opposition and even questioned by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, when he said that “there are those who think” that it would be “beautiful” to do without the amount.
Source: Observadora
