Taking into account the statements made on Wednesday morning by the leader of PP/Açores (Popular Party) which were made public by various media, the Presidency of the Government of the Azores clarifies the following:

“1- The decision to dismiss the Coordinator of the Scientific Commission of the External Summative Assessment Test does not represent any procedural anomaly and much less any political vengeance. It was neither the Government nor anyone authorised by it that disclosed any news other than the one published by GACS which did not identify the person in question. The political involvement is exclusively due to the untimely and inappropriate reaction of the leader of PP/Açores, who uses all sorts of insults and rudeness, which are not worthy of any response from the Government and, even less, from its President.

2- In fact, the person in question– Dr. Félix Rodrigues – insisted that he asked his resignation and thus the Government did not dismiss him; it is clear that the termination of his duties was the right choice taking into account the mistakes that have been detected in the exam and the breach of confidentiality on their content, which occurred as a result of the neglect already clarified by him. 

3- The President of the Government has monitored and sanctioned all the decisions concerning this subject that have been taken by the Regional Secretary for Education and Training.

4- Contrary to statements made by Dr. Artur Lima on Wednesday morning, democracy in the Azores is not endangered, but is poorly regarded when a political official such as him repeatedly makes unjustified personal attacks.