Sergio Figueiredo stepped down as adviser to the finance minister. “Giving up sucks. It’s a way of saying it’s not worth it – and it’s not worth it because everything isn’t worth it,” he wrote in an article published in the Jornal de Negócios. Fernando Medina reacted to this decision by saying that he was very sorry, but “I understand the reasons very well.”
The former TVI chief information officer has not resisted the pressure generated by the controversy following the news of his appointment. “Enough with me! From now on, I am an ex-future consultant to the Minister of Finance. Reassure the most shocked souls that I have not received a cent, have not even issued a long-awaited contract my signature since last week,” he wrote. , adding that “I have never did not work for the state and will continue to do so in the future.”
In response to criticism from various quarters, Sergio Figueiredo stated that “this amount of aggression and this insult, this amount of insults and insinuations has become unbearable” and even that “what surprised me most of all was that respectable people think that my admission to the work was the most disqualified government act since the founding of the Republic!”
In the text, he comments, “this pervasive and profound outrage only occurs when a terrible illegitimacy is exposed. What was mine? Nothing!” and in this case “impudence has crossed all boundaries”, because no one dared to speak of “any illegality or wrongness.”
Sergio Figueiredo presents what he considers the “Four Lies Behind Leaving”, citing being attacked for his lack of skills to perform the functions, his salary, his lack of exclusivity, and his possible exchange of favors. between customer and contractor. Arguments that now “the ex-future consultant to the Minister of Finance” refutes point by point.
Justifies leaving office with “4 lie”
Sergio Figueiredo clarified each of the “4 lies” with which he justified his resignation from office. Regarding the alleged services, he said that “they are not proven by anything, they are not based on facts, they are just processes of intent and judgments of character.” “The one who distributes them did not do it in vain. Some will answer in their places for what they said,” he said.
As for the salary, he said that the issue was of “great national importance”, as “about 70 thousand euros per year, which corresponds to the amount of 5800 euros gross per month that he will earn”, and “no more than that that the minister himself earns.
But the former chief information officer of TVI did not stop there. In two pages in Negócios, he also addressed the functions of the office from which he retired, challenging “two lines of argument” that did not recognize his ability “to any kind of intervention in the sphere of public policy and the alleged redundancy with the mission assigned to various bodies existing within and outside the Ministry of Finance.
Regarding exclusivity, Figueiredo wrote that “not all insults and attacks were unreasonable. Therefore, some must pay a tax for ignorance and stupidity, which required transparency in public auctions. Or offers influence trading when he raises the issue of incompatibility.”
Sergio Figueiredo ended the text by emphasizing the issue of a possible conflict of interest. “How can you prove the opposite of something that does not exist? If everything is put on the basis that it supposedly can arise. I reassure them too. There will be no conflict. I have lost interest. Or the will to have it. I know what is worse,” said he.
party reactions
“The Only Worthy Deed”
This Wednesday, the PSD classified Sergio Figueiredo’s resignation as “the only worthy act” in the hiring controversy. Despite this, PSD Vice President Paulo Rangel warned that the prime minister “has a lot to explain”.
inquiry request
Chega repeated this Wednesday in a statement “the request he made to the General Inspectorate of Finance to investigate the payments made between Medina and Figueiredo and whether there was ever an exchange of services.”
“Do not delete series”
The Liberal Initiative considered this Wednesday that “the departure of Sergio Figueiredo does not erase yet another demonstrative episode of PS being confused with the state, thinking that the state is a means to achieve its goals of absolute power.”
“Natural Result”
For the PCP, Figueiredo’s resignation was the “natural result” of a custody decision based on “questionable criteria in terms of form and content”. “He will find out there,” said Joao Diaz Coelho, member of the Political Commission of the PKP Central Committee.
“Sergio Figueiredo has excellent conditions”
The finance minister said this Wednesday that “Sergio Figueiredo is well placed to carry out such functions,” citing “his education in economics, his experience as a journalist and director of various media, and has established himself as one of the country’s leading economic policy analysts. “.
The government has chosen another former journalist
According to an order published this Wednesday in Diário da República, on the same day that former journalist Sérgio Figueiredo resigned as Medina’s consultant, the government appointed another former journalist, José Vítor Maleiros, “consultant member of the planning and policy department.” and Forsyth Center of Public Administration Competence”.
Author: Thiago Rebelo as well as Andres Pereira
Source: CM Jornal
