As the volume of complaint increases over the former Finance Minister’s new job with British debt recovery company Arrow Global, dozens of serving MPs in Portugal have registered that they too have second jobs.
According to information registered on the Parliamentary website, 38 of Portugal’s 230 MPs have declared other paid activities in addition to their salaries for serving their constituents which voters view as a full time occupation.
Maria Luís Albuquerque is not alone in accumulating extra income but the 38 registered may not be the total as many more have yet to complete their entries.
Of the 38 MPs that have listed their interests as including another job or jobs, 21 are from Passos Coelho’s PSD party, 11 are socialists, five are from the CDS and one is a member of the Communist Party.
Albuquerque will earn around €5,000 per month at Arrow Global as a non-executive director but has come under fire as the company was one of those that bought into Banif bank's debts.
As Finance Minster, Albuquerque had mysteriously delayed any resolution to the bank’s problems while she was in charge, leaving the mess for the next government.
Last week, news of her new job was greeting with cries of "unacceptable" and "embarrassing."
Comments
In Portugal the MP allocated to them may well have absolutely no concern for them as individuals, but being favoured by the national party is high on the list, so has no worries at all at not being re-elected. And if necessary (i.e.under performing) re-allocated to another territory.