PPP: António Ramalho says will only be praised “posthumously” – TVI24

The president of Infrastructure Portugal, António Ramalho, who chaired the renegotiation of contracts for public-private partnerships (PPP) road, devalued Wednesday criticism of achieved savings, whereas only be praised “posthumously”.

“When I accepted the place knew that was never going to be praised, unless posthumously” said António Ramalho, when questioned by the PSD Emidio Warrior’s deputy on the savings achieved in the renegotiation of road PPP.

ramalho Anthony led the renegotiation of commissions of PPP contracts, representing the State, appointed by former Secretary of State for Transport, Sergio Monteiro.

Last week, the Minister of Planning and Infrastructure, Pedro Marques, said the renegotiation of road PPP will not bring savings “propagandized” by the previous government.

“We are following the negotiations [of PPP contracts] which has been in development. Negotiations are not yet complete, but we can draw some conclusions that have to do with a big difference between what was touted by the previous government and reality, “said Wednesday the minister, who is to be heard in economics committee, Innovation and Public Works.

The previous government promised a reduction in future costs of the PPP 7,350 million euros, following the negotiation of agreements with both utilities and with the financing banks, including the European Investment Bank.

“Those numbers that appeared systematically have nothing to do with the value of savings,” said the official, stressing that, “even if there is some savings, much the passage from charges for Infrastructures From Portugal”. Ie “there may be savings, but not the amounts announced,” he added.

The previous government concluded the renegotiation of six of the 14 road PPP contracts – Oporto, Greater Lisbon, Northern Interior, Beira Litoral, Beira Alta and Costa da Prata – processes that were exempt from visa requirements previous Court of Auditors.

Still, the agency considered that the amendments to the contracts raise questions to be clarified at a later inspection (audits), by arguing that there is no guarantee that the reduction in charges appointed by the Government to happen.