OpiniãoO Mexico is also concerned about Costa – Daily News – Lisbon

To Mexico come voices of protest against the government of António Costa. The country intensified yesterday, at the end of the day, its opposition to one of the first measures of the new government: the annulment of the sub Carris and Lisbon Metro. Nine days after taking office, the government announced the cancellation of the tender launched and closed by António Pires de Lima team, Minister Passos Coelho Economics. The decision reversed, as you call it this government also focused on the port transport.

It was not long until foreign groups chosen for the sub-concessions of transport appeared in the media to protest. The displeasure demonstrations were felt through the services of embassies in Portugal. The most insistent was precisely Mexico Country ADO group, which controls the Spanish Avanza, the company chosen by the previous government to explore the Carris and Metro de Lisboa.

The criticisms were rising tone and warnings quickly gave way to threats. The ADO group ponders take the Portuguese government to court and demand compensation for the cancellation of the sub-concession, alleging, among other things, that it violates international treaties and also hurting the relations between Portugal and Mexico.

And yesterday the end of the day, without any translation into Portuguese, came another, more violent, Mexico message. “The sudden cancellation [of the process for granting transport] generated great concern to the government of Mexico and uncertainty for Mexican investors, thus affecting economic relations between the two countries,” said Mexican Ambassador to Portugal. Pérez Bravo manifested yet, according to the embassy, ​​”confident that this situation will be resolved briefly and in this way to resume the track that has been evident in the ties between economic actors from Mexico and Portugal.” The pressure is evident, as seems evident that the Mexican authorities it will not be here.

If we believe what he said Pires de Lima, soon after his departure, the reversal of the transport sub-concessions will cost the state tens of millions of euros in damages. Avoid this loss is also the concern of the Environment Minister John Matos Fernandes, responsible for the folder. But beyond the financial side there is, in the case of sub- transport, but not just a matter of reputation. It is important that foreign investors do not lose confidence in the country and feel confident that your money will never be a plaything in the hands of the governments of Portugal. And it is essential that the present António Costa, always, a very strong reason to cancel decisions made on behalf of the Portuguese State. What has not happened, not only in the case of sub-concessions of transport.