The privatization process of TAP is generating a lot of problems for the Portuguese government.
The scandals at the Portuguese public airline have put the prime minister, António Costa, in check on more than one occasion.
The Minister of Infrastructures, João Galamba, was the latest to tender his resignation, which Costa rejected.
Last Saturday, the Infrastructure Minister had to respond to accusations about the investigation into the payment of irregular compensation at the state-owned airline TAP.
Galamba clarified that “the Ministry has never wanted to hide any note to the investigation committee”.
He pointed to his former deputy, Federico Pinheiro, assuring that he did not want to transfer the notes to the Parliamentary Commission.
However, Pinheiro sparked controversy because he denied the government’s version that he was investigating the irregular payment, which led to his dismissal.
In addition, Galamba allegedly asked the Security Information Service (SIS) to recover Pinheiro’s computer.
However, Galamba has Costa’s unconditional support because he has assured that he has “no indication that he tried to hide information.”
The Portuguese prime minister needs to reduce the internal crisis because, in little more than a year, he has suffered 13 ministerial departures, four caused by the TAP scandals.
TAP’s privatization process continues and is expected to begin next July.
Although the final candidates for the company are not yet known, everything indicates that there will be a “battle” between the airline giants of the old continent:
- IAG, the parent company of Iberia and Vueling, has just taken over Air Europa;
- Lufthansa, in the final stretch to incorporate Ita Airways;
- and Air France-KLM.
With information from LGI
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