Lisbon, Oct 10, 2024 (Lusa) - Portugal's finance minister said on Thursday that the government was in preliminary talks with the three airline groups that have shown an interest in buying TAP but would not commit to a date for the privatisation.

"We're in dialogue with the three airlines [Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and IAG] that have shown an interest in the company's privatisation, this is a preliminary dialogue, we're analysing the wishes of each of these companies," said the finance minister, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, at a press conference in Lisbon, following the submission to parliament of the proposed budget for 2025 (OE2025).

The minister was asked about the privatisation of TAP, since the airline is not mentioned in next year's budget proposal.

He said he could not commit to any date for the conclusion of the privatisation process.

Miranda Sarmento reiterated that the government has two objectives for the sale of the flag carrier: the maintenance of the Lisbon hub and the development of TAP in terms of routes, and the second is to try to recover in the medium or long term some of the money that the state has injected into the airline's recovery.

The first general vote on the budget proposal is scheduled for 31 October.

This will be followed by the so-called specialised debate in parliamentary committees, where ministers will present the budget for their areas. The process will end with the final overall vote on 29 November.

With the current composition of parliament, where the PSD and CDS don't have an absolute majority, the budget could be approved on the left with the PS's abstention or on the right with the votes of the 50 Chega MPs. Luís Montenegro has so far given no sign of an agreement on the right.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

Lusa