PM refuses to dissolve family company, or name clients
As expected yesterday evening, the government ‘survived’ the motion of censure lodged by right-wing party CHEGA, but many questions remain about the very grey area of possible conflicts of interest.
For a start, the prime minister refused not only to dissolve the company that is the root of the controversy, he has even refused to name its clients.
Adding to an impression of ‘arrogance’, is the fact that RTP (state news broadcaster) has revealed two other government ministers have shares in companies that could also, ostensibly, benefit from the changes proposed for the land law.
Justice minister Rita Júdice, and Social Security minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho have this far chosen not to relinquish these business interests, unlike minister for territorial cohesion Manuel Castro Almeida, and in stark contrast to former Secretary of State Hernâni Dias, who was essentially obliged to resign because of his business interests.
Thus, there is no great feeling today that the government has come out of this situation ‘smelling of roses’. Indeed President Marcelo has said that “there are mechanisms to demand more explanations” for those who believe that what they have heard is not sufficient. But the ‘essential’ is that a move to topple the country’s government did not succeed (no parties other than CHEGA voted for it), and as such yesterday’s result has contributed to ‘stability’, said the president.
