This Thursday, Attorney General Lucília Gago broke the silence and spoke about Operation Influencer, warning that the Public Ministry only did its job and that the Prime Minister was only mentioned because of matters of transparency.
The supervisor of the criminal investigation that led to the resignation of the Portuguese Prime Minister was questioned about the Prime Minister’s decision. In her own words, she does not “feel responsible for anything”.
The Attorney General’s statement was the first public declaration made by the relevant authorities after the operation that was conducted on November 7 and led to the detention of five people for questioning. None of which was the Prime Minister.
In total, there are nine defendants connected to the case. Among them are the former Minister of Infrastructure (who resigned even more recently than the Prime Minister), the President of the Portuguese Environment Agency, the former speaker of the Portuguese Socialist Party, and the Start Campus company.
The Prime Minister felt the need to resign after finding out that his name had been mentioned by those being investigated by the Public Ministry because of big lithium and hydrogen deals, and the data center in Sines.
The Prime Minister was mentioned because it was relevant to mention him, for transparency reasons, according to the AG. If he had not been mentioned, it could have been affirmed that something very relevant was being omitted, and that could not have happened.
Up until the statement both the Attorney General’s office and the Public Ministry had been criticized publicly. The latter, for its role, and the first for its silence. However, such scrutiny is expected to end. The Public Ministry and the Attorney General’s office will continue to investigate without unnecessary drama.
