Portugal’s infrastructure minister has resigned amid a rising controversy over severance pay from the state-owned airline TAP.
Pedro Nuno Santos mentioned in a remark that he took “political responsibility” for the subject and was once resigning “given the public perception and the collective feeling”.
The minister’s secretary of state, Hugo Santos Mendes, has additionally left his place.
The controversy about TAP Air Portugal severance pay was once first reported by way of the Correio da Manhã day by day newspaper.
On Saturday, it was once published that the secretary of state within the Portuguese finance ministry, Alexandra Reis, had gained €500,000 in reimbursement when she left the airline’s board of administrators in February.
She was once then appointed head of Portugal’s state-owned air site visitors keep an eye on corporate prior to taking on a central authority place in December.
The airline is these days present process a €3.2 billion restructuring procedure that has led to body of workers cuts and wage discounts, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Civil Aviation Pilots’ Union (SPAC) mentioned Reis’ reimbursement was once “incomprehensible in a company that is experiencing a difficult economic situation”.
Reis resigned on Tuesday on the request of Portugal’s finance minister however has denied any wrongdoing.
Opposition events have now referred to as for a parliamentary listening to to inspect her departure from TAP and whether or not she left voluntarily.
“In the future, lessons must be learned,” Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa mentioned on Wednesday. “Anyone who takes up a public post is subject to a thorough examination of their past.”
Nuno Santos mentioned he had requested TAP for “explanations” about Reis’ departure prior to presenting his resignation.
He is the 2nd executive minister to step down in 9 months after the Socialist Party took place of work following January’s elections
The former minister were tipped as one of the crucial successors to Portuguese high minister and birthday celebration chief Antonio Costa.
