In the initial proposal submitted to the committee, the party had called only for the minister, Mário Centeno, to be called in, but the governing Socialist Party asked for the Bank of Portugal governor, Carlos Costa, whose institution oversees the banking sector, to be heard as well.


The opposition People's Party then suggested that the Social Democrats amend their proposal to include both men.


Despite the unanimous vote to approve the motion, with the recommendation that the hearings take place as soon as possible, no date has yet been set for the session.


In comments to Lusa, Social Democrat deputy António Leitão Amaro said he feared that some of his colleagues are keen to ensure the hearings now approved take place only after parliament has debated the 2016 budget bill, but that the seriousness of the issues surrounding the Banif rescue and its implications for taxpayers mean that they should take place urgently.


The government announced late last month that Banif was to be sold to Banco Santander Totta, a Spanish-owned bank, but with the state retaining liability for many of its financial commitments.