PM 99.9% sure actions of ex-state tourism secretary illegal
The head of government also said he had "not the slightest doubt that it is not republican ethics for someone to leave the government and go and work for a company for which they acted directly".
Portugal’s prime minister, António Costa, said on Wednesday he was “99.9%” sure that “it is illegal” for the former secretary of state for tourism, Rita Marques, to move to a company in the sector that she oversaw and “does not correspond to republican ethics”.
During the debate on general policy in the Portuguese parliament, the prime minister was questioned by the leader of far right-wing party Chega, André Ventura, about the situation involving Rita Marques, who “decided to leave the government and go to a company to which she had granted tax benefits” while in office.
António Costa said he did not recognise Rita Marques’ attitude and said he was “99.9%” certain of the illegality of the situation.
“What I did when I read the news was to ask the secretary of state for the presidency of the Cabinet to speak to Rita Marques, drawing her attention to the existing legal limitations, asking her if she had granted any benefits of a contractual nature, whether of a tax nature or a financial incentive, if she had carried out any act in relation to that company and she understood that she was covered by the law. This is not my interpretation”, he stressed.
The head of government also said he had “not the slightest doubt that it is not republican ethics for someone to leave the government and go and work for a company for which they acted directly”.
“Regarding the behaviour of the person who served in this government and in the previous government as secretary of state for tourism, what she did from my point of view is illegal and does not correspond to my understanding of republican ethics,” he argued.
