“Very strange” this wasn’t highlighted at outset, political commentator
Controversial figure João Galamba – only recently ‘resigned’ as Infrastructures minister – has now been officially pinpointed as the lead figure in the “collusion” behind Operation Influencer – the criminal investigation that brought down the government almost two months ago, leading to president Marcelo calling legislative elections for March 10.
According to Expresso – which has seen the 100-page plus appeal lodged against bail measures imposed by judge Nuno Dias Costa – “Galamba is considered the leader of the collusion; Lacerda Machado may be continuing to commit crimes, and all the defendants jeopardise social peace”.
With PS Socialists pinning their hopes on a swift ‘clear up’ of this inconvenience (an investigation into influence trafficking doesn’t sit well with an election campaign), the truth is there is still some way to go.
Expresso explains the public prosecutions office is essentially gunning for the probe to ‘return’ to being one centred on ‘corruption’.
The three prosecutors responsible for Operation Influencer believe the one defendant suspected of corruption – Nuno Mascarenhas, mayor of Sines – did indeed act in a corrupt fashion (in spite of the fact that he is currently under suspicion of no crime at all).
They also believe “there is a danger of serious disturbance of public order and tranquility with regard to all the defendants” pointing the finger particularly at the two men closest to António Costa, (Diogo Lacerda Machado, the PM’s so called best friend and Vítor Escária, his former chief of staff).
Their overriding argument is that “the considerations made by the honourable judge of criminal investigation are not legally correct”, albeit they admit to have made some errors themselves.
Bottom line, prosecutors want bail measures tightened – while, at the same time, Diogo Lacerda Machada and Vítor Escária want their bail measures relaxed.
So what happens next? Expresso explains there is now a 30-day period for parties to respond to each other’s appeals, after which the case goes to the Court of Appeal in Lisbon, which will decide who is right about the bail situation, and which offences are most appropriate to put on the eventual charge sheets.
This far, there is no ‘news’ on the evidence or otherwise against the prime minister (who insists he is blameless).
SIC commentator Luís Delgado showed no surprise over the ‘news’ on João Galamba. He said: “When a case is presented with the degree of political seismic magnitude that this one had, it is very strange that minister Galamba wasn’t immediately listed as the first and most important political person in the whole process”.
It is now a matter of waiting for the judgement of the Appeal Court… as the pre-election hurly burly continues. ND
Sources: Expresso/ SIC Notícias
