The secretary-general of the Socialist Party (PS) says that the option to sell TAP's minority share capital is"appropriate," as are the safeguards the Prime Minister mentioned, especially the guarantee that the hub will remain in Lisbon. Even so, José Luís Carneiro noted that there are conditions, namely that the privatization does not extend to the majority of the capital and that the more than R$3 billion invested by the State be returned.

"There are two conditions we demand. The three billion euros invested by the State in the pandemic must, in the medium and long term, be reimbursed to Portuguese taxpayers" and that "the starting point must also be the end point, that is, no parasocial agreement can alter or undermine the confidence in these assumptions," said the leader of the third political force.

Regarding the return of the 3.2 billion euros that were injected into the company in recent years, José Luís Carneiro admits that" there are investors who know the strategic and economic potential of TAP" and that this factor will not be an impediment to the arrival of partners."I am confident that there will be no shortage of investors" to buy TAP.

Regarding a potential full sale of TAP in the future, the PS leader admitted that this is a concern." Under no circumstances will we accept the assumption of a full sale in the future", he said, admitting that such a decision would jeopardize the confidence of the aforementioned safeguards.

Welcoming the Government's decision, the PS considers that Portugal must"maintain the majority of the shareholder structure to ensure four primary objectives", specifically the"hub based in Lisbon","guarantee connections with Portuguese communities abroad","continue to function as an instrument for the development of our economy, which is largely based on tourism" and as a "factor of territorial cohesion by ensuring public service to the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira".