SATA. Resolution published calling for an audit of accounts

The resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA) which advocates carrying out an independent audit of the accounts of the SATA aviation group, between 2020 and 2024, was published this Friday in the Official Gazette.

According to the publication, ALRAA requests “an independent audit, to be carried out by the Court of Auditors, of compliance with the restructuring plan and the accounts of the SATA group, between 2020 and 2024, which also includes management options and shareholder interventions with repercussions on the net results of each audited year”.

The PS proposal was approved, by a large majority, by the Azorean parliament on July 10.

"It is important, quickly and through an independent and qualified audit by the Court of Auditors, to ensure greater transparency, greater scrutiny and effective accountability for the SATA group, including rigorous analysis of the restructuring plan and management and shareholder options," explained Carlos Silva, a Socialist deputy, during the presentation of the initiative at the Legislative Assembly, in Horta.

According to the parliamentarian, SATA's accumulated losses between 2021 and 2024 reached 213 million euros, which demonstrates " the deterioration of the financial situation" of the airline and also attests to "the complete failure of the restructuring plan " of the carrier, which is in the process of privatization.

Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Paulo Estêvão said at the time that the regional coalition executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) was not opposed to any audit of SATA: "Conduct whatever audits you want. Those who owe nothing have nothing to fear."

The audit request was approved by almost all parties with parliamentary seats in the Azores, with the exception of the sole member of parliament for the Liberal Initiative, Nuno Barata, who voted against it, believing that the other parties were using the airline as a "political weapon."

According to the regional executive, negotiations to conclude the sale of 76% of the capital of Azores Airlines (which operates flights to and from the archipelago) "are progressing well," both with the Newtor/MS Aviation consortium and with the European Commission itself.

Three more ALRAA resolutions were published in the Official Gazette this Friday.

One of them recommends that the regional executive, led by social democrat José Manuel Bolieiro, “ensure the completion of all assessment and authorization processes for the transition of operational assistants to the new career of auxiliary health technicians in all health units on the island and in the three hospitals in the region, within a maximum period of one month from the date of approval.”

Another suggests the creation and deepening of the Regional Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Control, as well as increasing the number of mental health professionals in the Regional Health Service.

The third resolution of the Azorean parliament concerns the establishment of a working group to draft a proposal to revise the Local Finance Law “that increases transfers to local authorities in the autonomous regions.”

The working group, which will be composed of representatives of the groups and parliamentary representations with seats on the Permanent Specialized Committee on General Policy, must present a proposal to revise the Local Finance Law within 150 days after the publication of the resolution.