Submarine contra-deals nonsense

As politicians continue to debate the whys and wherefores of the infamous submarine contra-deals, former economy minister Álvaro Santos Pereira has addressed a parliamentary inquiry to say they were all “imaginary”, based on nonsensical calculations which no one ever expected to come to fruition. “We’re talking about contra-deals devoid of any economic basis,” he said, “with figures that had been polished by business consortia because they knew they would never have to furnish the deals.”