The Socialist Party in the Lisbon City Council on Tuesday demanded an independent review of the actions of the municipal director of the City Licensing Department, Luisa Aparicio, who was accused by the Ministry of Justice of the crime of passive corruption as well as malfeasance.
The accusation against Luisa Aparicio relates to the period when she was municipal director of the department of urbanism and environment in the chamber of Vila Nova de Gaia in the district of Porto, from June 2015 to October 2022, and is part of Operation Babylon, aimed at the alleged violation of norms and regulations in city licensing processes in favor of promoters associated with projects of high density and scale.
Some 300 million euros worth of real estate interests are at stake through the offer and acceptance of cash rewards, according to the MP, who has accused 16 defendants of dozens of economic crimes, through several real estate projects in Vila Nova de Gaia.
“In the name of transparency and full clarification, which are necessary to dispel any suspicions regarding the licensing of urban planning in the country’s capital and to protect the good name of the Lisbon City Council, PS councilors demand an independent audit of all actions carried out by the city council. Leader,” the Socialists said, noting that the region, led by Luisa Aparicio, controls and authorizes annual investments exceeding one billion euros.
In a statement, the PS board questioned the “metal rise” of Luisa Aparicio, who was appointed director of the department eight months after starting work at the Lisbon City Council, seeking to know the criteria behind the internal promotion process and stating that her retention as Director of the City Licensing Department when the municipality has been aware for weeks that it is facing a licensing charge “is causing confusion and misunderstanding.”
“It was the adviser in charge of the Department of Transparency and Anti-Corruption who proposed her promotion. [Joana Almeida, independente eleita pela coligação ‘Novos Tempos’ – PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança], requires clarification. Since the council member is aware of the legal case concerning this person and, as such, the president of the municipality, it is important to know the conditions of her appointment by Carlos Moedas to a position that decides the success or failure of an investment worth hundreds of millions. euro”, strengthened PS.
Lusa has reached out to the Lisbon City Council for clarification on the situation with the municipal director of the City Licensing Department, including whether she has been removed from her position, but has not yet received a response.
Socialist councilors also noted that “this is the first time in decades that the person responsible for the capital’s urban planning department is facing a legal challenge to his sanctioned urban planning licensing”, adding that “not once in 14 years has this happened.” PS management”.
The PS recalled that Carlos Moedas, before becoming mayor, spoke of the “serious suspicions” that dominated urbanism in Lisbon, regarding the councilor Manuel Salgado (PS), “who was not even the accused”, while the Social Democrat stated, that he would never force an advisor suspected of a crime to work with him.
“Now that an unprecedented accusation has emerged, the Chamber cannot play dead, pretending that nothing is happening or has not happened,” the PS emphasized, declaring that “for Carlos Moedas, defending transparency has always meant populism and a form of promoting the suspicion of political opponents.”
Demanding that an independent review of the actions carried out by Municipal Director of the City Licensing Department Luisa Aparicio begin now, the Socialists warned that “if Carlos Moedas does not present the terms of this review in the next few days,” the PS council will submit a proposal in this sense for a vote at the next executive meeting.
The executive body of the Lisbon Chamber, consisting of 17 members, includes seven elected members of the Novos Tempos coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Alliance), who are the only ones entrusted with responsibilities and who rule without an absolute majority – three from PS, two from PCP, three from Cidadaos for Lisbon (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), one from Livre and one from BE
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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