Prime Minister António Costa has just announced that he does not accept the resignation of the Minister of Infrastructure, presented this evening by João Galamba.
At a press conference outside the official residence of São Bento, in Lisbon, Costa began by saying that Galamba had sent him a letter asking him to resign, in a gesture he classified as “noble”. However, the leader of the Government says that he does not accept it.
“This is a noble gesture that I respect, but which, in conscience, I cannot accept”, declared António Costa to journalists.
The experience of working with Galamba as Secretary of State and Minister "does not allow" Costa to accept his resignation. “No fault is personally attributable to him”.
According to the head of government, the minister "did not seek in any way to hide any information from the parliamentary commission of inquiry".
“Not only do I have no evidence that he tried to hide it, but he was the one who made the information available to the CPI”, he added.
Costa also referred to the post-resignation of Galamba's assistant and repeated that, on the computer that he took, "there was classified information". “This behavior will be investigated by the competent authorities”, he stressed.
And about who “reported to the authorities the theft of the computer with classified documentation”, Costa said that it is “what is required of any servant of the State”.
“In conscience I cannot accept this resignation”, he repeated.
“Contrary to what I have heard, there were no instructions or orders from any member of the Government, starting with me”, for the bodies to act, said António Costa.
He added that he had “no reason” to understand that SIS acted outside the law.
After again apologizing to the Portuguese, the prime minister underlined: “It is not always easy to make decisions. It would be much easier to follow the unanimous opinion of commentators and accept the resignation, listen to most political agents, but between ease and my conscience, I am sorry to disappoint those I will disappoint, but I choose my conscience”.
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