Moedas says disqualification will allow Diogo Moura to defend himself before justice

The mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, said this Monday that the suspension of the mandate of the cultural councilor Diogo Moura, accused of fraud in the internal elections of the CDS-PP, will allow him to “defend himself before Justice”.

“This decision is so that he can defend himself before the justice and therefore he is taking the time to defend himself before the justice. It is important that we have this ability to protect ourselves, and so we often need to be able to be a little outside of public functions. Being outside the role he has played so far, he will be able to defend himself before justice,” said Carlos Moedas (PSD).

The president of the Lisbon city council, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference in Porto, said he had nothing “to add” on the issue yet.

“I have nothing more to add, I asked him to be removed, he immediately agreed, the matter is closed,” he repeated.

A member of the Lisbon City Council’s cultural council suspended his mandate at the request of the mayor, days after he was accused of fraud in the CDS-PP internal elections.

In a written statement sent to Luza on Sunday, Carlos Moedas said he asked Diogo Moura “to suspend his mandate and he immediately agreed to this request.”

Diogo Moura (CDS-PP) was accused by the Ministry of State (MP) of fraud in two internal Christian Democrats elections.

In a note sent to Luza, Carlos Moedas explained that “despite the charges brought against him [a Diogo Moura] do not report to the person in charge as a councilor,” he believes, “the councilor has no conditions to continue to develop his work for the benefit of the people of Lisbon.”

The mayor praises Diogo Moura’s “excellent work, commitment and dedication” over the past two and a half years as councilor “in areas such as innovation, economics and culture.”

Also in a written note sent to Lusa, also on Sunday, Diogo Moura said that the president of the Lisbon City Council had asked him to suspend his mandate as cultural councilor “to avoid the attacks that the opposition is directing at the executive” of Lisbon. Municipality of the capital Lisbon.

Diogo Moura said the process had “nothing to do” with either his responsibilities as a councilor or the council’s decisions.

“The above-mentioned process is not only external to the CML – it is a party action – but it dates back to a time long before the current municipal mandate. I was not judged, condemned or condemned. personal statement,” he defended, insisting that he was “absolutely innocent” and guaranteeing that he would prove it.

Prosecutors charged Diogo Moura, who is also vice-president of the CDS-PP, with “two crimes of aggravated electoral fraud” for allegedly trying to manipulate the votes of activists in two electoral acts (2019 and 2021). .). CNN Portugal reported this on Thursday.

According to this TV channel, Diogo Moura “knew that the secretary of the Lisbon district was at the polling station and sent her several messages asking her to put in the ballot boxes the votes from activists who did not show up at the polling station.” .

However, according to CNN Portugal, “the district secretary never complied with the requests” and the case was eventually reported and investigated by the PSP, with the centrist mayor now officially charged by the 4th Division of the DIAP (Department of Investigation and Criminal Affairs) Lisbon.

On Friday, the PS and Bloc Esquerda defended the sacking of Diogo Moura.

Lusa has already asked the Lisbon City Council about who will replace Diogo Moura in this post, but has not yet received a response.