“During these last seven years, the Government has gone as far as it can. The PSD knew that, in order to implement the solution that was chosen by itself [when it was government], it was necessary to change a law that it refused to do and obviously delayed the process”, said the minister.

Pedro Nuno Santos pointed out that the PSD party, “in terms of expanding the airport capacity of the Lisbon region, the last thing it can do is take itself out of the picture”.

50 years behind schedule

Noting that the issue of increasing airport capacity in the Lisbon region “is 50 years behind schedule”, he said that the socialist government “continued the solution it inherited from a PSD/CDS government and stopped it with a change of leadership” by that party. “For reasons of political seriousness and political debate, we have to be honest and serious and each assume our personal and party responsibilities,” he added.