João Galamba, former Minister of Infrastructure, says he is against the hearing, in Parliament, of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) Lucília Gago, regarding Operation Influencer.

"My defense will be made in the proper forum", he said, in an interview with CNN Portugal, saying, however, he understands the question raised by the President of the Assembly of the Republic. 

"I do not believe that the Attorney General of the Republic going to Parliament makes any sense", he continued, stating, however, that if Lucília Gago thinks she has to give explanations, she should do so. 

"And, if she does not, the Portuguese will certainly make their judgment about what is happening and about the behavior of the Attorney General. But going to Parliament does not seem right to me", he stressed.

"I was not heard, but it seems that I was listened to for several years"

Regarding Operation Influencer, in which he is targeted, he guaranteed: "I was not heard, but it seems that I was listened to for several years". João Galamba stated that, after the searches, on November 7, he submitted a "request to be heard". 

"My lawyers have already insisted on being heard, but I have not yet been", he said, adding that he was unable to consult the case. 

"All I know is through the media", he lamented, in the same interview. 

I will end up being acquitted

"It would be very tempting for me to ride the recent news that is favorable to me, but I will not do so", he continued, reiterating that the defense will be made "in the proper forum". "Obviously, I have a completely clear conscience about everything I did. I know everything I did. I also know everything I didn't do", he also said, quoting António Costa: "I know how this process will end". 

"I will end up being acquitted", he stressed. 

João Galamba, who was indicted in the context of an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office into lithium, hydrogen and data center businesses in Sines, also stressed, in the same interview, that it is "normal and commonplace" for any government official "to have meetings and meals" and to negotiate in restaurants. 

Galamba says he had the right to personal use of drivers

Regarding the use of drivers from the Ministry of Infrastructure, a practice attributed to Galamba - and criticized by Luís Montenegro in his first Council of Ministers as Prime Minister - the former government official did not hesitate to speak. 

"The Prime Minister, at the informal Council in Óbidos, said that the Government was going to publish a code of ethics to avoid, and I quote 'Galamba cases'. And I speak specifically about this, because the current Prime Minister has never held executive functions, so some ignorance in this matter could even be excused, but he is a lawyer and has an obligation to know the law, which is clear. The decree-law of 78 that is in force says that the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, members of the Government, the President of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Supreme Court and, if I am not mistaken, the Attorney General of the Republic have the right to personal use", Galamba said. 

"I can guarantee that all the uses I made were in the exact terms of the law and always for the benefit of my functions, when not in the exercise of my functions", he said.

And he added: "I have no father or mother. They have already passed away and my in-laws live in Funchal, so my daughters have no grandparents in Lisbon. And I always made a point of picking up my daughters from school, interrupting, if I didn't have an important meeting. And I would go, with my drivers, to pick up my daughters from school, to doctor's appointments...", he said, saying he does not accept Luís Montenegro's criticism. 

Pedro Nuno? “He never told me anything in recent months"

Finally, when asked if he has been in contact with the current Secretary General of the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos, João Galamba said that they are not in contact. "We used to be closer", he admitted, referring explanations to himself.

“He never told me anything in recent months, not even on the day of the searches”, he said, adding that he only spoke to Pedro Nuno Santos once after the TAP 'episode'.

Leia Também: Provas recolhidas na Operação Influencer poderão ser declaradas nulas (Portuguese version)