Lucília Gago will “break her silence” this evening on RTP
Portugal’s Attorney General – under fire for investigations that have toppled two governments – is once more in the ‘dog house’, this time for apparently favouring the nation’s media over parliament.
Ms Gago will be appearing on State news channel RTP this evening, ostensibly to ‘break her silence’ over the outpouring of criticism that has washed her way since Operation Influencer first broke, hotly followed by a corruption probe in Madeira.
Only recently she declined to address parliament ‘yet’, on the basis that she wanted to have investigations (at least pertaining to Influencer) concluded. Thus, “why“, rage critics, “has she agreed to talk to RTP?“
According to SIC Notícias, Lucília Gago’s ‘silence’ isn’t just over Influencer and the probe Madeira. It has been been a mark of her tenure (which is three months from ending…)
The greatest discomfort (of critics, many of whom are aligned with politics) stems from “the famous paragraph” in the initial notice on Operation Influencer, which led to the resignation of former prime minister António Costa.
Says Inês de Sousa Real, the MP representing PAN (People Animals Nature): “We think it’s manifestly unfortunate that (Ms Gago) should give the (RTP) interview first rather than go to the Assembly of the Republic. I sense a certain contempt that is not healthy.”
Fabian Figueiredo, parliamentary leader of the Left Bloc, says he finds Ms Gago’s decision “incomprehensible” – particularly as this will be the first interview she has given a television station after almost six years in office.
Alexandra Leitão, PS parliamentary leader stressed: “The PS supported requests to hear the Attorney General in Parliament. We believe that this is the right place. We will be there when she is in Parliament to ask questions and make the comments that need to be made.”
Requests to hear Lucília Gago in parliament have been dragging on for more than six months, writes SIC. “She has almost always refused to provide clarification – especially with regard to Operation Influencer and the wiretaps involving the names of António Costa and João Galamba”.
SIC commentator Luís Marques Mendes also believes that the Attorney General is snubbing parliament by opting to give a television interview first – but then, one needs to recall the message Ms Gago gave at the 13th Congress of the SMMP (Public Prosecutors’ Union), earlier this year.
She made her feelings very clear then. What she says tonight could be dynamite.
