The Legislative Assembly of the Azores approved a proposal by the PS to request the Court of Auditors to audit SATA’s accounts for the period between 2020 and 2024.

During the debate on the draft resolution, Socialist MP Carlos Silva pointed to the €83 million loss in 2024 in the SATA group as one of the worst ever. He also pointed out that the accounts have not yet been published, although the results have been announced.

“It is unacceptable that, as of today, the annual accounts for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 have not yet been published, which constitutes a breach of the law and a total disregard for the supervisory role of this parliament,” he said.

The parliamentarian also considered that the 453 million injected into Azores Airlines (SATA Internacional) as part of the restructuring process now represents a “missed opportunity.”

“In view of the accumulated losses, a restructuring plan for SATA was drawn up and negotiated with the European Commission for the period between 2021 and 2025, which now needs to be audited,” he pointed out.

“With each passing day, SATA loses value. More flights and more routes have meant more losses, which also affects the outcome of the privatization process, which was flawed from the outset and has been conducted with a lack of transparency and rigor,” said Carlos Silva.

The initiative was approved with votes in favor from all parties represented in the Azorean Parliament, except IL. The deputy from the Liberal Initiative, Nuno Barata, considered that the audit may be just another political weapon.

“What this draft resolution will do is take resources away from the Court of Auditors to do other things, instead of playing at auditing SATA. You, the members of Parliament, can then make your own interpretations… Voting against this draft resolution means saving taxpayers’ money,” he said.

The regional secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, stated that “those who have nothing to fear have nothing to hide.”

However, he regretted that, in his view, the socialist bench “has already made up its mind.”

The issue of SATA was debated several times during the Regional Legislative Assembly, which ended yesterday in Horta.

According to the regional secretary for Finance, Duarte Freitas, negotiations with the only consortium still in the running for the privatization of Azores Airlines are in the final stages.

The official admitted that if this process is not successful, direct negotiations may be opened for the sale of the company and also for the privatization of SATA’s handling component.

Duarte Freitas considered that the only alternative to privatization is the insolvency of Azores Airlines, which he estimated would cost around €300 million in compensation to workers and other aspects.

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.