Cristóvão Norte, the Social Democrat MP who accepted a freebie trip to euro2016 courtesy of his friend at Galp Energia, faces a seriously embarrassing time as the Public Prosecutor wants to see his immunity lifted so he can face questioning and possible later charges.
The Galpgate case already has triggered the departure of three secretaries of state, Fernando Rocha Andrade (Taxation), Jorge Costa Oliveira (Internationalization) and João Vasconcelos (Industry).
All are being investigated for the crime of ‘improper receipt of benefit,’ as are Vítor Escária (economic adviser to António Costa), João Bezerra da Silva (chief of staff for Rocha Andrade) and Pedro Almeida Matias (the former chief of staff for Vasconcelos).
Parliament already has received a request from the Public Prosecutor's Office to remove the immunity of Algarve MP, Cristóvão Norte, who attended a euro2016 game at the invitation of a friend of his at Galp.
Cristóvão Norte already has explained that he accepted the invitation because the invitation was from a friend of his who worked at Galp and therefore this was not an invitation of an "institutional nature."
When asked if the oil company, rather than the friend, had paid for the trip, Norte said, "yes, I suppose it was."
The Algarve MP is involved in the spirited and widespread opposition to Galp and ENI, the two members of a consortium that has advanced plans to drill the first test well off Aljezur in early 2018 and that has the rights to drill and extract oil or gas, despite intense environmental concerns.
See also: 'Algarve MP on Galp ‘tickets for favours’ guest list'
Cristóvão Norte
