Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Pedro Siza Vieira, is facing the sack if it is proved that he was a managing partner of a property company while holding public office.
The evidence is compelling as Siza Viera has admitted that he was acting illegally for two months, as holding government office requires that a person "performs their duties exclusively."
Whether or not he is sacked, is up to the Public Prosecution service and the Administrative Court, the latter needs to satisfy itself that the millionaire Minister indeed was running a company while serving the public as a Minister.
Prime Minister, António Costa, has stated that Siza Viera will face no consequences from the government, despite his illegal actions, but admits the Court may decide otherwise.
Viera set up an estate agency, Prática Magenta, on the day before he was called to government. He owns 50% of the shares and was the company’s managing partner between October 20, 2017 and January 2018.
Pedro Siza Vieira acknowledges that the situation was “incompatible” and has given up being a managing partner, opting for the comfort of a monthly salary on the State payroll.
The problem is that in the first few months in office he broke the law but claims that he did not know he was doing so and was, “not aware that one cannot be a manager, even if unpaid, of a company."
Pedro Siza Vieira
