Montenegro says public administration changes "will continue"
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said today that changes in positions in the Public Administration "will continue" but rejected that "a purge" with "party criteria" is underway, referring to the "reams of resignations" in the previous socialist executive.
© Lusa
![Notícias ao Minuto](https://cdn.noticiasaominuto.com/img/equipa/pessoa/lusa.png)
Política Luís Montenegro
"The changes that have happened will of course continue to happen: but was I expecting you to say the opposite?", said Luís Montenegro, in response to the parliamentary leader of Livre, in the biweekly debate, in parliament.
After criticism from Livre deputy Isabel Mendes Lopes, who recalled the recent departures of the Ombudsman of Santa Casa da Misericórdia, Ana Jorge, or the former national director of the PSP, José Barros Correia, the prime minister added that he will not make "any purge" in the Public Administration with party criteria but will "make the necessary changes so that the government's policies can be well executed and can have an impact on the increase in the quality of life of the Portuguese and in the fulfillment of the government's program".
The leader of the executive ironized, saying that the Government has an average of "one exit every 10 days", saying: "Look, we are in fact very restrained".
Montenegro then made a comparison with the first government led by socialist António Costa.
"In 2016, when the PS took office, António Costa and all those who accompanied him in the Government, including Pedro Nuno Santos, there were 273 resignations of leaders without a competition and appointments within three months, at the beginning of the term. There were 28 appointments in 15 days. And whether in Social Security or the Tax Authority, the changes were in the dozens. I was even listening to you here and I was thinking about that character: in the face of reams of resignations, now four resignations are worth as much as hundreds?", he countered.
Montenegro pointed out that "with the change of Government, there are many public administration leaders who even take the initiative to make their place available", something that he said the Government did not accept in some cases, and stressed that the transition period between executives "is not easy".
Faced with laughter from Livre deputy Rui Tavares, Montenegro said: "You are laughing out loud because you have never had that responsibility. But you want to have it and legitimately. And I'll tell you more: at this rate you will have it because the PS will no longer live to be us in the coming years, that is my conviction".
Read Also: PCP accuses Government of benefiting "small minority" (Portuguese version)
Descarregue a nossa App gratuita.
Oitavo ano consecutivo Escolha do Consumidor para Imprensa Online e eleito o produto do ano 2024.
* Estudo da e Netsonda, nov. e dez. 2023 produtodoano- pt.com