Suitability of the leader of Novo Banco in question? Banco de Portugal says that reassessment must be based on “objective facts”
Political parties are raising doubts about the suitability of the president of Novo Banco, based on conversations about Luís Filipe Vieira revealed in the tax investigation report, released last week. Banco de Portugal does not commit to any position, but, questioned by Expresso, answer that this analysis, which is primarily the responsibility of the European Central Bank, depends on an assessment based on “objective facts”. In addition, remember that it is also up to Novo Banco itself to notice something wrong if it happened.
There is no concrete answer that involves the Tax Authority’s review of that answer that involves the commission in the inquiry search of the Tax Authority, the answer that now involves the Tax Authority’s review of which answer it involves in the inquiry consultation. But there are three general ideas in the responses sent on the subject by Banco de Portugal – even more extensive than in previous cases.
First of all, in the answer he gives to Expresso this Monday, January 10, the banking supervisor recalls that Novo Banco is directly supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB). However, it should be noted that, “without service, Banco de Portugal, within the scope of the attributions of the initiative in the aforementioned regulation, takes the relevant information to its knowledge and articulation with the ECB all relevant information about its knowledge and articulation with the same ECB a considered decision in any way to be adopted”. It doesn’t say if it did in this case.
New facts are analyzed “in every moment”
From anywhere, and in knowledge, the banking supervisor says that anyone’s place is known, “be careful that they arrive at every moment, at the moment of the authorities of António Ramalho. supervision”. The CEO of Novo Banco said on Friday that he had informed Banco de Portugal on the subject and even on the interview he was going to give to CNN Portugal.
When in roles bankers are presented, there must be several parameters re-analyzed over time. “Assessment with exclusive objectives thought is made strictly in compliance with requirements met for gauging the requirements of experience, independence, availability and response in sensitivity to the body, based on the actual perception of facts”, refers the supervisor in the Express experiences.
Upon his reappointment as president of Novo Banco, in the summer of 2021, Banco de Portugal BCE and Banco de Portugal BCE had to assess Ramalho’s identity and skills.
Compliance has a version of Ramalho’s facts
Thirdly, if the first line is up to the supervisors, a first line of action that has in assessment: In the long term mandatory, they occur in supervening circumstances that may determine the non-fulfillment of the required requirements”.
“Suitability is permanently reviewed. It has just been reviewed. And before moving here, I gave a note to the Bank of Portugal that I was coming, and I wrote a letter to the bank’s compliance department noting my version of these facts, saying that I think this is in the interests of the bank and the committee of inquiry”.
António Ramalho, CNN Portugal
To CNN Portugal, Ramalho revealed that he had written a letter to the compliance department (which ensures compliance with rules and legislation) with his “version of these facts”, saying that he always defended the “interests of the bank and the investigation committee”.
According to revelations from Sábado magazine and CNN Portugal, tax inspector Paulo Silva, who is investigating the assets of the former president of Benfica, considers that there was a “concer” of positions between Novo Banco and Vieira in the latter’s preparation for his hearing in the committee of inquiry. A version that the banker denies, saying that, at the time, the one who was already one of his main debtors was not in compliance, and that he only made himself available to transmit data about his situation.
The news was enough for several, including those who were part of the inquiry committee, to ask for a reassessment, by Banco de Portugal, of the conditions for António Ramalho to continue in his duties at Novo Banco.