🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[Mike88]

Vacant deputy speaker chairs: PSD leader Luís Montenegro asks Speaker Santos Silva to resolve the matter for good.

In response to Luís Montenegro, the Speaker says he has been raising MPs attention to the two vacant deputy Speaker seats and hopes that a new IL candidate will be easily elected. Regarding CHEGA, he says that the problem is the candidates that were presented, which had a majority rejection by MPs. He added that the two deputy Speakers, both from PS and PSD, have been doing a "exemplary" job and two new deputies would help lower the pressure on them.

Regarding the new Lisbon airport, Costa announced that the new committee to write a report will be approved this week, and announced changes in legislation that will remove veto power from mayors:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1574723325833904129

New airport. Government approves first diplomas this week and changes powers of municipalities

In a speech regarding tourism and its impact in the Portuguese economy, PM Costa announced that the committee and the rules to write a new study on the future Lisbon airport will be approved this week in cabinet, and also announced that the government will propose changes to legislation in order to ban the veto power mayors have in these kind of projects. Costa hopes that the future airport location will be "consensual" but warned that if there's no agreement, he will use his majority to make a decision, however, added, again, that he believes a final decision will be accepted by PS and PSD.

[Mike88]

More controversies surrounding ministers, this time involving the new Health minister and the Territorial Cohesion minister:

Two companies of Ana Abrunhosa's, minister for territorial cohesion, husband received EU funds, despite the warning of the DA office of "obscurity of the law".

https://twitter.com/JornalNoticias/status/1575030837338218497

Two companies owned by Minister Ana Abrunhosa's husband received community funds

Observador newspaper reports, today, that two companies owned by Minister Ana Abrunhosa's husband received EU funds, a total of 369,000 euros, while she was already minister. One of the companies was created just 15 days before a project actually started. These cases are creating controversy because Ms Abrunhosa oversees the coordination of regional development commissions, which in their part control the management of EU funds. Accusations of conflict of interests are surging, but her office is defending her by pointing to a DA document that says nothing is illegal here, but the same document also warns about the "obscurity of the law" and advises office holders to be carefull and ponder a lot before making any decision. Opposition parties are already criticizing this, and this morning, a tense discussion between PS and IL, which is demanding the minister's resignation, led to the PS to order the deletion of the recording in which IL demands the resignation of the minister.

Manuel Pizarro, new Health minister, is also in the middle of a controversy as he forgot to inform that he's married with the Mace-Bearer of the order of nutritionists:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1574533299074174977

Aware of the possible conflict of interests, Manuel Pizarro explained that he took the “most appropriate measure (…)”, which was to entrust the guardianship function of the Order of Nutritionists to Margarida Tavares.

The new Health minister, Manuel Pizarro, is also involved in a conflict of interest controversy as CNN Portugal revealed he's married with the Mace-Bearer of the order of nutritionists. This forced Pizarro to delegate all decisions regarding nutritionists to his secretary of state for Health, and he says that no conflicts of interests will happen. However, law experts says that this situation is a complicated one, as, at the end of the day, they are still husband and wife who talk to each other and because professional orders in Portugal are basically lobbies, future decisions could be surrounded in controversy, even though the minister is excusing himself from matters regarding this order.

[Mike88]

Opposition parties are already criticizing this, and this morning, a tense discussion between PS and IL, which is demanding the minister's resignation, led to the PS to order the deletion of the recording in which IL demands the resignation of the minister.

This episode is creating a lot of fuss in the media, and the PS was now forced to apologize for the actions of their MP and are now open to change the law regarding the connections between office holders and family members businesses.

Parties reacted to this episode by accusing the PS of censorship but, also, congratulated the PS caucus for its apology and for putting order in their MP. However, opposition parties also say that this is a worrying trend as many point that the Socialists are blocking Parliamentary fiscalization of the government with episodes like the one above reported, and for blocking ministers of responding to MPs in Parliament. As of today, and so far, 8 ministers have been freed from going to Parliament and confront MPs, all with the majority votes of the PS.

[Mike88]

Some other updates:

- Lisbon mayor Carlos Moedas is being accused of a "populist cleaning" after demanding the removal of all political billboards from Marquis of Pombal Square, one of the main squares of Lisbon. To solve a problem that lasts for decades and which many accuse parties of "visual pollution" in the square, Moedas gave 10 days for parties to remove all billboards or else. Only three parties, PSD, IL and Alliance, removed their billboards with no problems, but parties like PCP, PAN and CHEGA didn't remove theirs and, in the early hours of Wednesday, city hall employees torn down and removed the remaining billboards. These parties are furious and accuse Moedas of illegal actions by violating democratic liberties. CHEGA has already filed a complaint against Moedas in the DA office;

- My hometown, Póvoa de Varzim, is also on the news because the mayor, the deputy mayor and the local assembly chairman received death threats and envelopes with bullets inside. The reason for these threats seems to be the demolition of the city's bullfight arena after being abandoned for a few years due to Court disputes between City Hall and pro-bullfighting associations who were against the demolition. The police is now investigating the threats and is considering providing police protection for the mayor and other local officials;

- President Marcelo is an official visit through California and was invited to throw the first pitch at the San Francisco Giants baseball game in Oracle Park:
https://twitter.com/politicanatuga/status/1575111712239325186

[Mike88]

Police raids the Presidency of the Council of Ministers because of corruption suspicions:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1575430391049109505

PJ raids the Presidency of the Council of Ministers

The media is reporting that this Thursday morning, police officers have raided the building of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers because of corruption allegations. The main suspect seems to be the secretary general of the Council of Ministers, David Xavier, nominated by PM Costa, and and he is a suspect of receiving bribes and of violating rules and laws of State contracts for his own personal benefit. According to the same outlets, the residences of the suspects are also being raided by the police.

[Mike88]

Police raids the Presidency of the Council of Ministers because of corruption suspicions:

A few more updates on this story:

The police is still in the building of the Government headquarters to collect evidence. No one is charged yet and it is also being reported that police received an anonymous tip that led them to this raid. According to Observador newspaper, this raid is linked to another corruption investigation called "Operation Web", in which the wife of a former PS mayor of Santo Tirso used her husband's connections, with the full approval and help of her husband, to sign business deals with several government, mainly local, departments. They were arrested in 2019. The police found a certificate that links the computer services contracts of the Council of Ministers, signed by the General Secretary of the Council of Ministers David Xavier, to the wife of this former PS mayor of Santo Tirso. Her house was also raided by police this morning.

As of now, the incumbent General Secretary of the Council of Ministers, in the center of this whole raid, will remain in office and the government announced full cooperation with the police, but PM Costa, in a Parliamentary debate this afternoon, said he knew nothing about the raid, however, he added that if any disciplinary measure is needed, he will take it immediately.

[Mike88]

GfK/Metris/ICS/ISCTE poll for Expresso newspaper/SIC TV:

Vote share %: (compared with the 2022 election)

37% PS (-4)
28% PSD (-1)
11% CHEGA (+4)
  4% BE (nc)
  4% CDU (nc)
  3% IL (-2)
  3% PAN (+1)
  0% CDS (-2)
  0% Livre (-1)
  5% Others (+3)
  6% Blank/Invalid (+3)

Popularity ratings: (between 0 and 10)

7.0 Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (-0.5)
5.3 António Costa (-0.7)
4.4 Luís Montenegro (new)
3.9 Catarina Martins (-0.1)
3.8 João Cotrim Figueiredo (+0.2)
3.6 Rui Tavares (+0.1)
3.3 Inês Sousa Real (nc)
3.0 André Ventura (+0.7)
2.9 Jerónimo de Sousa (-0.8 )

Government's approval:

49% Bad/Very bad (+21)
42% Good/Very good (-23)
  9% Undecided (+2)

Preferred successor of Costa in the PS leadership:

All voters %:

12% Fernando Medina
  8% Augusto Santos Silva
  6% Pedro Nuno Santos
  4% Mariana Vieira da Silva
  3% Ana Catarina Mendes
  1% Pedro Adão e Silva
33% None of the above
32% Undecided

PS voters %:

16% Augusto Santos Silva
15% Fernando Medina
  6% Pedro Nuno Santos
  6% Mariana Vieira da Silva
  5% Ana Catarina Mendes
20% None of the above
31% Undecided

Poll conducted between 10 and 18 September 2022. Polled 807 voters. MoE of 3.50%.

[Mike88]

Two companies of Ana Abrunhosa's, minister for territorial cohesion, husband received EU funds, despite the warning of the DA office of "obscurity of the law".

This controversy had a new chapter today: The minister's husband business partner, in the EU funds candidacy, was a corrupt Chinese businessman who bribed a State employee in 2019:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1575800294943883265

A Chinese partner of António Trigueiros de Aragão in a company that received 133,000 euros in state support had been convicted four months earlier of active corruption in the Golden Visa process. Lisbon Court of Appeal found that Zhu Xiaodong bribed the former president of the Institute of Registries and Notaries. To Expresso, Aragão says the following: “This gentleman is my friend and will continue to be”

The ongoing controversy surrounding the minister of territorial cohesion, Ana Abrunhosa, husband had another update today. It seems that her husband business partner in the company that was awarded 133,000 euros in EU funds, was a Chinese businessman who was charged, and sentenced, with corruption in 2019. Expresso newspaper reports that the Chinese businessman, Zhu Xiaodong, bribed a State employee in order to get access to a Golden Visa in Portugal. The minister's husband has confirmed this story and added that Mr Xiaodong "is my friend, will not stop being my friend" and made no further comments. The minister herself is silent since the story broke last Wednesday and led to an embarrassing moment for a PS MP. Many accuse the minister of a big conflict of interest, as her ministry overseas the management of EU funds.

[Mike88]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio:

Vote share %:

34.5% PS (-1.3)
30.9% PSD (+0.8 )
  8.9% CHEGA (-1.3)
  6.7% IL (+0.6)
  3.8% BE (-1.8 )
  3.2% CDU (-0.1)
  3.0% PAN (+1.1)
  2.1% Livre (+0.1)
  1.9% CDS (+0.5)
  5.0% Others/Invalid (+1.4)

Preferred PM:

38% António Costa (-7)
20% Luís Montenegro (+3)
30% Neither (+2)
  1% Both (-1)
11% Undecided (+3)

Popularity ratings: (difference between Approve and Disapprove)

João Cotrim Figueiredo +6.0
Luís Montenegro -2.0
Rui Tavares -8.0
António Costa -11.0
Inês Sousa Real -17.0
Nuno Melo -21.0
Catarina Martins -23.0
André Ventura -31.0
Jerónimo de Sousa -44.0

Government approval:

48% Disapprove (+5)
30% Approve (-5)
17% Neither approve or disapprove (nc)
  5% Undecided (nc)

President Marcelo approval:

49% Approve (-7)
25% Disapprove (+3)
22% Neither approve or disapprove (+5)
  4% Undecided (-1)

Poll conducted between 21 and 24 September 2022. Polled 810 voters. MoE of 3.44%.

[Mike88]

Two companies of Ana Abrunhosa's, minister for territorial cohesion, husband received EU funds, despite the warning of the DA office of "obscurity of the law".

This controversy had a new chapter today: The minister's husband business partner, in the EU funds candidacy, was a corrupt Chinese businessman who bribed a State employee in 2019:

The minister finally responded to criticisms in an opinion piece on Público newspaper with the headline "Caesar's wife is serious":

Ana Abrunhosa, minister of territorial cohesion, responded to criticisms because of the alledge conflict of interests between her and her husband due to the allocation of EU funds to her husband and his business partner, a corrupt Chinese businessmen, project. The minister says that there is no conflict of interest as two law opinions confirm her position. She presses that everything was done by the book and accuses those who criticize her of wanting "Caesar to stop being Caesar and become a second-class citizen" alluding to the famous saying "For Cesar's wife is not enough to be honest, it is necessary to appear". She also adds that she doesn't want her husband to be privileged, but she also doesn't want him to be harmed. However, the minister rejects the PS proposal of changing the law to avoid future accusations of conflict of interests saying it will only create more suspicion.

We'll see if this case goes away or continues to haunt the minister.

The Brazilian election are having a big coverage in Portugal and parties are making stances regarding the results:

- PS hailed Lula's results, adding that his triumph in the 2nd round will ensure progressive and democratic values against authoritarian drifts;
- PSD saluted the Brazilian people for the mobilization in the election and hopes for "civic mobilization and democratic peace" in the 2nd round without mentioning either Lula or Bolsonaro;
- CHEGA calls for a vote in Bolsonaro adding that "fundamental political projects" are at stake;
- BE hopes that Lula wins in the 2nd round, adding that Bolsonaro is a "genocidal President";
- PCP said that Brazil voted for change, but adds that a Lula win in a 2nd round is "hard to anticipate";
- PAN says that Bolsonaro's reelection would be negative for Brazil and asks for a debate on structural reforms;

No reaction from the Liberals (IL).

[Mike88]

Manuel Pizarro, new Health minister, is also in the middle of a controversy as he forgot to inform that he's married with the Mace-Bearer of the order of nutritionists:

Another controversy hits the new Health minister as it's reveled that he's still a manager in a health consultancy company:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1577043593000325120

Minister of Health assumes that he is aware of the incompatibility of functions, but explains that the end of the company is waiting for the sale of a property. Law foresees the resignation of government member

The new Health minister, Manuel Pizarro, who was sworn in just 3 weeks ago, has a new controversy surrounding him. After the controversy around possible future conflicts of interests as he's married with the the Mace-Bearer of the order of nutritionists, it's has now been discovered that Mr Pizarro is still a manager in a private health consultancy company owned by him. The law says that no government official can accumulate one private job post while working in government, and one of the sanctions in the law is a forced dismissal by the Courts. Mr Pizarro has said he's aware of the situation and that his company is in a process of dissolution. The DA office could propose the dismissal of the minister to the Constitutional Court.

This is not the first case in Costa's cabinet: In 2017, then deputy minister, Pedro Siza Vieira, was caught accumulating a job in real estate business with being a minister which led the Courts to rule on his position in government, but the case was then thrown out as PM Costa, before any ruling was given, did a government reshuffle and Mr Siza Vieira changed his position in government and the Court then ruled that the case was now "useless".

[Mike88]

Political updates:

- Health minister Manuel Pizarro has resigned from manager in his private health business after he was accused of accumulating his ministerial post with a private post. CHEGA filed a complaint against the minister in the Constitutional Court and in the DA office asking his removal from office, but this situation seems to have been resolved with Pizarro's withdrawal from his private business;

- Pundits are trying to understand what President Marcelo meant when he warned, in his last 5 October holiday speech, that he still has the power to dissolve Parliament and call snap general elections. Marcelo warned that in democracy, nothing is eternal and that "errors, omissions, incompetence, inefficiencies of democracy weaken and kill it." He added that Democracy is also alternative and that if those in power don't respond, others can step in to find solutions. Pundits are downplaying the President's warnings and point that Marcelo's goal is to warn that the President still has full power to ensure stability and to keep an eye on a majority government currently involved in several controversies and with growing unpopularity;

- Parliament debated, this morning, CHEGA's proposal of chemical castration for crimes of abuse and pedophilia. The proposal was rejected by all parties, with the exception of CHEGA, and it was a rather chaotic debate with a lot of interruptions and shoutings, with Speaker Santos Silva being forced, several times, to ask for respect and silence. During the debate one CHEGA MP even made a horn gesture to another MP, recalling the same gesture made in 2009 by then economy minister Manuel Pinho to a PCP MP, that led to the dismissal of the minister:

- The government is presenting to parties its overall forecast for the economy in 2023. The government is forecasting an economic growth of 1.3%, a 0.9% deficit, inflation at 4%, Debt in GDP at 110.8%, some changes in IRS and corporate taxes and no changes in VAT. Opposition parties are trashing the government's forecasts, calling them "too optimistic" and that have no ambition or sense of direction. The 2023 budget is expected to be unveiled next Monday;

[Mike88]

Another day, another controversy involving a minister: Pedro Nuno Santos and his father's company made direct contracts with the State.

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1578448857679204352

Pedro Nuno Santos and his father's company made contracts with the State. Law predicts resignation, minister defends himself with an old PGR opinion

Pedro Nuno Santos (PNS), minister of Infrastructure, is involved in another controversy. After the new Lisbon airport fiasco back in July and the recent controversies surrounding other cabinet colleagues, it's now revealed that Pedro Nuno Santos and his father's company, called Tecmacal, made direct contracts with the State, which violates the law as government officials and/or their family relatives who own more than 10% of a given company, that particular company is forbidden to make deals with the State, and PNS has a 1% share of the company while his father has 44%. Nuno Santos office is defending the minister by using an 2019 Attorney general law opinion that there is no incompatibility, but since then, the law changed and Nuno Santos could be indeed violating the law.

[Mike88]

Government presents the 2023 budget to Parliament:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1579448120567791617

Government delivers State Budget to Parliament

Finance Minister Fernando Medina presented, this Monday afternoon, the 2023 draft Budget to the Speaker of Parliament. The government forecasts a GDP growth of 1.3% in 2023, a 0.9% deficit, inflation at 4% and Debt in share of GDP at 110.8%, as it was already revealed in the last few days. Income taxes will have some changes with taxpayers from the 2nd income, after 7,479 euros per year, having a tax cut of 2%, from 23% to 21%. The other incomes, until the highest ones, will also benefit from this tax cut as income tax in Portugal is progressive. No changes on VAT while taxes on cars and circulation will increase 4%. Cryptocurrencies will also start being taxed. Overall, the main policies in the budget are the following:

- GDP growth of 1.3% in 2023;
- A 0.9% deficit and Debt in share of GDP will drop to 110.8%, the lowest share in 10 years;
- Inflation to stand at 4% in 2023, while in 2022, overall, it will stand at 7.4%;
- Public spending to reach a record 113 billion euros in 2023;
- 1.6 billion euros in railway investments, while the NHS will have investments around 100 million euros;
- Affordable housing will have almost 500 million euros in investment, while green agendas 450 million euros in investments;
- Income tax cut in the 2nd income, after 7,479 euros yearly, from 21% to 23%;
- The following incomes, until 80,882 euros yearly, will benefit from this tax cut;
- Tax deduction for families with 2 children will grow to 900 euros;
- Corporate tax cuts for businesses who increase wages and invest in I&D;
- Minimum wage increase to 760 euros in 2023, an increase of 55 euros;
- Social Support Indexer will grow 8% to 478,7 euros, which is the reference value for all other social supports;
- Pension increases between 3.53% and 4.43% in 2023;

Also yesterday, PM Costa signed a deal with business leaders and UGT, union affiliated with the PS, to reduce corporate tax cuts for businesses who raise wages, like it is posted in the list above, and to also scrap some contributions of businesses to Social Security. The government also promisses, in this deal, to inject 3 billion euros to stop the raising cost of gas and electricity for businesses and industries. However, business leaders say that the deal is not enough and some even criticize the form and the speed that the government forced the deal.

Reactions to the budget are as expected: Only the PS is defending the budget, labeling it as a document that shows "stability and prudence", while PSD says that the budget is the same old story and that has nothing to increase growth and prosperity. CHEGA labels it as an "insufficient" budget that will lead the country to stagnation. IL says it's a bad budget and that they will "peel off the layers of makeup" from the budget. PCP says it will be voting against as it's a budget that "compromises the future", while BE says that workers will lose purchasing power with this budget. Livre says that it's open to discussions, but that this is not a good budget. Pundits and economists, however, criticize Costa's "big optimism" for refusing any possibility of a recession in 2023, but that the budget, overall, is a very conservative and prudent one.

Also, during the budget presentation, Finance minister Medina got all "clumsy" and let the budget fall to the ground while he was showing it to the media:
https://twitter.com/politicanatuga/status/1579497330692493314

[Mike88]

Regarding the ongoing "incompatibility cases" in government:

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is advising Parliament to review the current incompatibility laws for cabinet members. In the last few weeks, several cabinet members, from ministers to secretaries of states, have been involved in cases that show alledge incompabilities between their public duties and their own, or relatives, private businesses. The President warns that if there are suspicions of "nepotism and clientelism", Parliament should review the law. We'll see what happens here.

President Marcelo is also a bit in "hot waters" for his statements downplaying the ongoing sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church:

https://twitter.com/sapo/status/1579863867106430976

Marcelo: “400 cases of abuse? It doesn't seem high, in other countries there are thousands of cases”.

Almost every week, new cases of sexual abuse in the Portuguese Church are reported and the scandal is becoming big and hitting high ranking official of the Church in Portugal. And President Marcelo has been dragged into this scandal. The DA office and the police are investigating the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima for suspicion of covering up cases of abuse and, in an interview to TVI, the Bishop said he received a telephone call from President Marcelo saying he was going to be investigated because a tip arrived at the desk of the President. However, there is confusion on when the telephone call happened as the Bishop and Marcelo have given several different dates.

And today, President Marcelo, commented that the sexual abuse cases in Portugal are quite low compared with other countries and that the numbers don't surprise him. Many accuse Marcelo of talking too much, thus, embarrassing himself and of violating some reservation rules that a President should follow.

[Mike88]

President Marcelo is trying to control the massive wave of criticisms because of his statements regarding the abuse scandal in the Church. Talking again to reporters, Marcelo acknowledged that he was misunderstood, but he doesn't understand why, adding that people are entitled to their opinion. Marcelo went on to say that he believes that are much more cases of abuse in the Church, and due to Portugal's reality, that's why he said that there are few cases  compared to other countries. If this will hurt his image, Marcelo rejects any damage.

The media is just "crucifying" President Marcelo with pundits saying they are "perplexed" with Marcelo's "carelessness" and that the President showed a total lack of respect. Parties are also trashing Marcelo's statements, with the two major parties, PS and PSD, being the only ones silent about this whole affair.

[Mike88]

The two main party leaders have weigh in on the "Marcelogate": Costa is defending Marcelo, while Montenegro is refusing to comment.

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1580172245791518721

Sexual abuse: Costa comes out in defense of Marcelo and condemns “unacceptable interpretation” of the President’s words

PM António Costa has reacted to the controversy surrounding President Marcelo's statements regarding sexual abuse in the Church and said that he's in solidarity with the President because of the "unacceptable interpretation" of the President's words. He says that everybody knows well the President and that, for the President, one case was already enough. Asked if Marcelo should apologize, Costa said that those who wrongly interpreted the President's words are the ones who owe an apology.

PSD leader Luís Montenegro, on the other hand, is refusing to comment or defend President Marcelo but pressed that any case of abuse needs to be investigated and punished, adding that all cases are important and there can't be any differences.

[Mike88]

President Marcelo apologizes to victims of sexual abuse and says that he had no intentions of offending them.

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1580517842579238913

Marcelo apologizes to victims of sexual abuse

After two days where the President was under fire because of his statements about sexual abuse in the Church, Marcelo, this morning, apologized to the victims of sexual abuse adding he had no intentions of offending them, and if he did, he was deeply sorry. He also said that his original point was to warn that the real number of abuses is much higher. He went on to thank the letters and messages of support he received in the last few days and also gave a word to the media saying he respects their fundamental role in democracy, but that he will not change and that the will continue his path, pointing he still has 3,5 years left in his term. Asked, in the end, to comment Costa's words that the President had nothing to apologize, Marcelo refused and just added "It's said. It's said".

[Mike88]

Two companies of Ana Abrunhosa's, minister for territorial cohesion, husband received EU funds, despite the warning of the DA office of "obscurity of the law".

Manuel Pizarro, new Health minister, is also in the middle of a controversy as he forgot to inform that he's married with the Mace-Bearer of the order of nutritionists:

Another controversy hits the new Health minister as it's reveled that he's still a manager in a health consultancy company:

Another day, another controversy involving a minister: Pedro Nuno Santos and his father's company made direct contracts with the State.

And here's another: It's revealed that Science minister Elvira Fortunato is still a partner in a company and that her husband received funds from a State foundation supervised by the minister.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1580483897963708417

Elvira Fortunato oversees the Foundation for Science and Technology, which financed her husband's company with around 56,000 euros. In addition, the minister remains a partner in another company that is a spin-off of Universidade Nova: NTPE Lda.

As the incompatibilities law is under discussion for being too restrictive and with PS and PSD at odds regarding possible changes, another cabinet minister, Science minister Elvira Fortunato, is involved in a controversy of her own as Sábado magazine reveals that her husband received state funds from a foundation supervised by the minister, and adding to this, it's also revealed she owns a 15% share of a company alongside her husband, which could violate the current incompatibilities law if any deal between this company and the State is or was done. The company says that Ms Fortunato is no longer a member of the company, but in the online registry of the company she still remains an active shareholder in that company.

[Mike88]

DA office is reviewing all of the tax returns of ministers in cabinet to see if there are incompatibilities:

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1581241743613210624

Incompatibilities. MP goes through a fine-tooth comb of income statements from all government officials

With the ongoing "incompatibilities" controversies still dominating headlines, the DA office has confirmed to several media outlets that they are reviewing and investigating all of the tax returns of ministers and other government officials currently in power. The DA says that this review is within the powers of the DA office in the Constitutional Court, adding that, as of now, this is not a criminal inquiry. The goal is to see if ministers and other government officials are following the law or are breaking it.

At the same time, CHEGA is threatening to file a 2nd motion of no confidence against Costa, if the Justice system doesn't clarify if several government officials are breaking the law or not. Another no confidence vote would probably embarrass PSD and IL, at the same time the PSD is still pressing that there is no approximation to CHEGA.

[Mike88]

Some political updates:

- After Costa's statements regarding the Marcelo abuse gaffe, in which the PM said that the President had nothing to apologize and only those who were distorting the President's words owed an apology, and after the President's apology for his own statements, did President Marcelo just gave a message to Costa? In an event paying homage to a well renown late Portuguese writer, Agustina Bessa-Luís, President Marcelo gave a high praise to "Prime Minister" Passos Coelho for his service to Portugal and that Portugal counts in his service for the future. Passos was seated in the front row on the audience. Pundits labeled Costa's "defense" of the President as political "cynicism" at its best, so, did Marcelo responded to Costa's defense or was this just a distraction from Marcelo to stop the wave of criticisms the President is facing?

- In an interview to Expresso newspaper, Finance minister Fernando Medina, confirms that the 2023 budget is reverting several "Geringonça" policies, and that many of these policies were never what the PS actually wanted;

- TAP airlines is back in the headlines for its future privatization. The government is being heavily criticized for its U-turn regarding the future of the airline and for now facing the possibility that the billions injected in the company may be lost. In return, the government, by the voice of Pedro Nuno Santos, accuses the PSD, which in their part accuses the government of an economic crime for reverting the 2015 privatization, of not proposing an alternative and suggesting that the Social Democrats would let the airline close down;

[Mike88]

Minister Pedro Nuno Santos hearing in Parliament: Laughs, tension, and "Love is f****d up".

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1582726111020011520

Pedro Nuno believes he did not violate the law, but admits to “leaving” the Government, if the Justice so decides

Infrastructure minister Pedro Nuno Santos was, this morning, in Parliament for an emergency hearing asked by CHEGA and PCP due to the TAP airlines privatization and the ongoing controversy surrounding ministers and family business deals with the State, which PNS is also involved. Regarding TAP airlines, Nuno Santos pressed, once again, that the only solution is to privatize the airline but refused any "U-turn" regarding privatization as the government never had intentions to own 100% of the company and added that, currently, the privatization process hasn't started so he had nothing more to say. He also accused the PSD leader, Luís Montenegro, of only criticizing his plans for TAP and of never suggesting an alternative. Following this, a weird moment between PNS and IL MP Carlos Guimarães Pinto happened, as he mocked an alleged love affair between CHEGA and PNS because of their statements of responsibility between them and compared this to a book by a well know Portuguese writer called "Love is f****d up". The IL MP tried not to say the swear-word, but Nuno Santos asked him to "have courage and say it", which created laughs in the room.

Regarding the incompatibility controversy, PNS said he acted in good faith and that he never gave up his share in his family business as he thought that the issue was "resolved" with the DA opinion. He added that the current law is unclear but that the law shouldn't be read "literally", as according to his analysis of the DA opinion, a literal interpretation of the law would violate the Constitution. However, if the Justice review rules that he indeed violated the law, he will accept the consequences and will resign from the government.

[Mike88]

Finance minister Fernando Medina and Environment minister Duarte Cordeiro, plus other former ministers, are being investigated for alledge direct awards that could have damage the State:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1583377101826449408

At stake are suspicions of direct awards that would have damaged the State in thousands of euros.

The media is reporting, today, that the Finance minister Fernando Medina, the Environment minister, Duarte Cordeiro, plus the former Culture minister Graça Fonseca and the former Economy minister Pedro Siza Vieira, are being investigated by the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action of the DA office due to alledge direct awards made between Lisbon city hall, where Medina, Cordeiro and Fonseca were at the time of deals, and a law firm headed by Pedro Siza Vieira. The media reports that several contracts signed between 2014 and 2018, estimated in 500,000 euros, could have violated the law, adding that Mr Siza Vieira law firm gained more than 800,000 euros just for services for Lisbon city hall. In reaction, Fernando Medina is unaware of the investigation, while his cabinet colleague, Duarte Cordeiro, said that all contracts were done by the City Hall services and that he was never contacted about this investigation. Mr Siza Vieira and Ms Graça Fonseca declined to comment.

[Mike88]

Finance minister Fernando Medina and Environment minister Duarte Cordeiro, plus other former ministers, are being investigated for alledge direct awards that could have damage the State:

The media is revealing new details about this investigation:

It seems that is an extention of the 2017 "Tutti Frutti" investigation in which PS and PSD headquarters and members were raided by the police due to allegations of corruption, influence peddling and illegal financing. That investigation also showed "shady" masonic meetings, collusion between PS and PSD members and schemes to win local PSD internal elections. Now, the investigation has been expanded and it has, according to the media, more than 500 wiretaps that seem to reveal the corrupt activities the police and the DA suspected, plus the investigation now includes 16 city halls, including Lisbon.

However, the investigation is being done in extreme secrecy and it has no timetable for conclusion, thus creating a "swampy" situation as the suspects don't know what is going on.

[Mike88]

Possible 2026 Presidential contender, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, receives death threats. The police is already investigating.

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1581704208256208896

PJ investigates threats to Gouveia e Melo. Admiral's statements about Marines may have motivated the messages

During the last week, reports that possible 2026 Presidential candidate, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, was receiving death threats were confirmed by himself and by the police. The origin of these threats seems to be the Admiral's statements condemning the two marines who, last March, beaten to death a police officer outside a nightclub in Lisbon. The Admiral, again, has confirmed he has been receiving threats by mail and phone, but didn't give much more details adding he fully trusts the security forces investigating the case.

At the same time, these reports about the Admiral are fueling even more the rumours that he may indeed run for President in 2026., But, some newspapers are reporting that President Marcelo "wants" to block Gouveia e Melo's path to Belém Palace. As Gouveia e Melo leads early polling for 2026, and has sympathy from many in the rightwing, Marcelo and other high profile PSD members are worried that Gouveia e Melo could divide the rightwing electorate and give the Presidential keys to a leftwing candidate. Many argue that's why Marcelo "threw" Passos Coelho name into the arena, in order to unify the rightwing in a sole candidacy and put aside Gouveia e Melo and to, of course, erase the damage from his trainwreck statement regarding Church abuses. Further reports, however, also say that Passos Coelho is deeply upset with Marcelo for talking about him.