Ventura latches on to news of PM’s family real estate business
CHEGA leader André Ventura has continued the practice of Portugal’s MPs focused on just about anything but what is ‘really happening’ by giving the prime minister 24-hours to ‘give explanations to the country’ about what he sees as “absolute suspicion of corruption”.
At a press conference today, Mr Ventura considered that, following news about the prime minister’s wife and sons having a real estate business, this means they could benefit from the recent review of the land law.
“The lack of response to basic questions and the absolute suspicion of corruption regarding the prime minister leaves no other alternative”, he told journalists.
The move comes after Friday’s ‘froth in parliament’ over CHEGA’s perceived rudeness to a fellow member of parliament with disabilities: all day, parties railed about CHEGA’s lack of decency and decorum, while the wider world was digesting far wider issues, like the security of Europe.
Are Portugal’s political figures so insular that they cannot look beyond the walls of their not-so-hallowed chamber? It is a question many will be asking (and possibly answering, as well).
But in the meantime, André Ventura has grabbed another moment in the spotlight, challenging the leader of Portugal’s coalition government to give ‘satisfactory answers’ to his questions.
“If this response persists in not being given – in being hidden, then tomorrow (Monday) at this time CHEGA will file a motion of censure against the executive”, he told a posse of journalists.
Ventura added that he has already transmitted his intention of a motion of censure to the President of the Republic.
The prime minister however has already described as “absurd and unjustified” the suggestion that there could be a conflict of interest because his family own a real estate business.
Correio da Manhã tabloid linked the PM’s marital status (of sharing of acquired property) with the possibility that if his wife’s company ‘made money from the land law’, then by association so could he. All of which, certainly in the PM’s eyes, is taking things into the realms of the ridiculous.
But that is where parliament was on Friday, with MPs snapping at each other, to the extent that one leader writer has said the equivalent of ‘at least voters can see how dreadful they all are, and use their votes wisely’ in any upcoming elections.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
