Alberto Laplaine Guimarães, Secretary-General of Lisbon City Council, was released on Sunday alongside three other defendants in Operation Lúmen, an investigation into economic crimes involving Christmas lighting contracts between a Vila Nova de Gaia company and various Portuguese municipalities. Guimarães is suspended from his role and prohibited from entering council premises or contacting staff and other defendants. The investigation, which led to arrests last week, concerns allegations of corruption, economic participation in business, abuse of power, and criminal association. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has launched an inquiry into the council's collaboration protocol with the Union of Trade and Service Associations, which has been in place since 2012. The case has sparked political tension regarding the legality of Guimarães's tenure, with Socialist councillor Alexandra Leitão questioning why he remained in his position beyond the legal ten-year limit for service commissions.