Latest news and stories about local politics in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Chega party has tabled a motion of no confidence against Oeiras Mayor Isaltino Morais following his indictment for the alleged misuse of 150,000 euros in public funds for personal expenses.
The Socialist Party in Lisbon has accused Mayor Carlos Moedas of illegally retaining Alberto Laplaine Guimarães as municipal secretary-general, arguing that his tenure has exceeded the legal ten-year limit and that a new public tender was required.
The Chega party has officially distanced itself from Lisbon councillor Bruno Mascarenhas following reports that his partner was renting clandestine housing to immigrants in poor conditions.
A private event to be held at Eduardo VII Park has drawn criticism from the left over municipal support of 75,000 euros, questioning the public interest and the lack of social sensitivity.
Festivities by a citizens' committee had been authorised by the Lisbon City Council and the PSP, but were visited by the Municipal Police. Later, the president of the parish council wanted to know if the PCP had organised the event.
The socialist municipality contracted the work in August via direct adjustment as part of the centenary of the PS founder.
A mature democracy must know how to celebrate its memory without handing it over to a single political family. The 25th of April, it bears repeating, does not belong to the left.
The Mayor of Lisbon presented the municipality's positive accounts to counter accusations of “recklessness” from the PS. Carlos Moedas downplayed the petition against the municipal programme for April 25th and guaranteed that he will be the “voice of the people of Lisbon” in his new commentary slot.
The Social Democrat states that he will continue to be “the voice of the people of Lisbon”.
Around 600 cultural agents accuse EGEAC of reducing the “major date” of democracy to a “spring festival”. The mayor counters with an investment of nearly one million in 2024.
There is a clear return of politics and the political, of friend and enemy, to the public sphere. Even around here.
A united right-wing coalition could dismiss the Lisbon Municipal Assembly board, which is chaired by the PS. André Moz Caldas, the president of the body, claims to be “calm”.
The CDS-PP municipal group in Lisbon announced it will propose naming a street after the late military officer Marcelino da Mata, with a similar initiative planned for Porto. This follows the rejection of a previous PSD proposal by left-wing parties, the Liberal Initiative, and CDS-PP member Helena Ferro de Gouveia, whose individual vote against the party line sparked internal criticism. While the party honors da Mata as the most decorated soldier in the Portuguese Army, critics, including Ferro de Gouveia and left-wing municipal deputies, condemn his actions during the Colonial War, citing alleged war crimes and his role in upholding the Salazar dictatorship.
José Toga Soares lives in Maia, in the Porto district, but has presided over the Avenidas Novas parish assembly in Lisbon since 2021. He received over 10,000 euros in allowances. The official downplays the situation.
Porto, Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, and Gaia are among the municipalities where executives elected without a majority achieved one through agreements with opposition councillors.
Carlos Moedas avoided a mandatory debate requested by Livre at the Municipal Assembly, where the party intended to criticise the ethics of the Lisbon mayor. PSD deputies voted in favour of an appeal to block the debate, supported by Chega, which voted alongside the Social Democrats despite not being part of Moedas' municipal coalition. Consequently, Moedas will not provide the requested explanations. Notably, the CDS-PP and Liberal Initiative (IL) groups, both part of the governing coalition, voted against the appeal. The CDS-PP stated that while they disagreed with the tone of Livre's request, they believed the appropriate response was to debate the issues in the plenary rather than suppress them. Livre intended to question Moedas regarding several controversial appointments and management decisions, including those involving Mafalda Livermore, Joana Baptista, and Laplaine Guimarães, as well as changes in the city's cultural institutions. The PS abstained, while the PCP, Left Bloc, and Livre voted against the appeal.
The PSD highlights that Lieutenant-Colonel Marcelino da Mata, who died in 2021 from COVID-19, is one of the most decorated soldiers in the Portuguese army.
The president of Estrelas de São João de Brito is Mascarenhas' advisor for sports and participated in the discussion of the proposal. Chega accuses the PS of 'political persecution' and the PSD of 'tagging along'.
The viceroy of Oeiras laughs every day at the Public Prosecutor's accusation, between a forkful of risotto and a toast with Pêra Manca to Amadeu Guerra. Read all about it in O Inimigo Público.
The proposal received votes in favour from the entire opposition, namely PS, Livre, BE, PCP, and Chega.
The municipalities of Oeiras and Amadora are on the brink of conflict. It is essential to compare the military capabilities of these two powers to better follow the unfolding of hostilities.
The majority voted against the suspension of the mayor, who is accused alongside 22 other officials of embezzlement and abuse of power regarding 150,000 euros in meal expenses.
The PAN party contests the notice that the jacaranda trees on Avenida 5 de Outubro in Lisbon will be transplanted, citing the “negligible” success rate of such an operation and out of respect for the petition against the project.
The Oeiras Municipal Assembly today rejected a motion of no confidence, proposed by Chega, which called for the suspension of the mayor's mandate, Isaltino Morais, following a Public Prosecutor's indictment regarding meal expenses.
The Oeiras Municipal Assembly rejected a motion of censure on Tuesday, proposed by Chega, which called for the suspension of Mayor Isaltino Morais's mandate following a Public Prosecutor's indictment regarding meal expenses. The motion was defeated by a majority, with votes against from the Isaltino Inovar Oeiras 25 (INOV) movement, PS, Evoluir Oeiras (Livre/BE/Volt), CDU (PCP/PEV), and PAN, while IL abstained and Chega voted in favour. The indictment involves the mayor and 22 others accused of embezzlement and abuse of power related to over 150,000 euros in meal expenses. During the debate, political parties criticised the motion for conflating accusation with conviction and violating the presumption of innocence, though they emphasised the need for political scrutiny. Mayor Morais defended himself, stating the expenses cover seven years and thousands of meals, rejecting claims of misuse of public funds.
The votes in favour came from the municipal deputies of Chega, who proposed the motion.
Isaltino Morais wanted to separate Oeiras and Amadora with trees. Residents fear fires near the tree line close to their homes and have halted the work. Oeiras states that the planting was completed on Thursday.
A group of citizens from Amadora moved to halt the 'tree line' that Isaltino was building to stop an 'invasion of territory'. The court has five days to issue a ruling.
The planting of trees promised by Isaltino Morais to separate the municipalities of Oeiras and Amadora in the Serra de Carnaxide began this Thursday. The two local authorities do not agree on their territorial boundaries.
Alberto Gonçalves comments on the Public Prosecutor's indictment of Isaltino Morais, mayor of Oeiras
