Montalegre’s PSD defended this Wednesday the holding of mid-term elections to the chamber following the arrest and resignation of the president and vice president, and called on the PS “not to be afraid” of being scrutinized.
Orlando Alves and David Teixeira, former president and former vice president respectively, were arrested on Thursday along with the head of production as part of Operation Alquimia launched by the Judicial Police (PJ). A day later, the socialist mayors resigned.
Fatima Fernandez, a staff councilor who is expected to become president of the municipality, has already given assurances that “the city council is functioning normally.”
A meeting of the chamber is scheduled for Thursday, at which the composition of the next executive body can be determined.
With the departure of Orlando Alves and David Teixeira, the executive branch should consist of Fatima Fernández, Ana Isabel Diaz, hitherto a councilor without an assigned role, as well as Susana Barroso and Jorge Fidalgo, the next names on the PS list to win municipal elections. elections in 2021, in which the PS won four terms and the SDP three.
After a meeting to analyze the political situation in the municipality, the PSD Political Commission stated that it understood that “the new executive branch must be approved by the voters in order to clarify the political options of the municipality and legitimize its supporters.”
“For this reason, we defend the midterm elections and call on the PS not to be afraid to be scrutinized by the Barrocoins,” the Social Democratic Council said in a statement.
The SDP said that, however, the option of calling new elections is not its own, therefore, he assured, it will continue to “provide a firm and responsible opposition, always protecting the highest interests of the municipality,” according to the report. it is “done so far”.
The Social Democrats regret that “the good name of Montalegre and its people is being damaged by the misbehavior of the PS-elected mayors, causing negative publicity and discredit” of the municipality.
“However, we cannot say that we are surprised by the latest developments, as can be seen from the positions we have taken in the exercise of our opposition mandate,” he said.
For PSD, the decision to continue “does not seem like the best solution” because “the new leader is not ready and does not have the necessary strength to look to the future.”
“The municipality needs deep reforms, namely the Department of Works, it is necessary to turn the page, remove the cloud of suspicion and begin the process of building confidence in the council. Also, it’s time to prepare the next community support project. Develop and launch a new district development policy,” he said.
The PSD also stated that Fatima Fernández has been a councilor for 17 years and has “always been on the side of retired mayors”.
“If you were not aware of the facts that led to the arrests and coercive measures ordered by the court, this is serious, if you knew and did not say anything, this is also very serious,” the Social Democratic Council considered.
PSD stated that “PS Montalegre can give a lot of explanations to the Barrosões” and asks “now nobody knows anything”.
“We must not forget, for example, paid trips to non-residents, which helped the PS win elections since 2001. For us, the system of power of the last 33 years, led by the PS Montalegre, has irretrievably fallen, and this decision will only make you lose another three years,” he said.
The three detainees are suspected of helping family and friends with public works contracts and are charged with crimes related to the criminal community, tax evasion, unlawful receipt of benefits, forgery of documents, abuse of power and economic involvement in business.
PJ explained that the investigation concerns “a global volume of public procurement procedures between 2014 and 2022 suspected of drug addiction in favor of certain economic operators, amounting to 20 million euros.”
Following hearings in the Porto Criminal Court, Orlando Alves was in pre-trial detention, David Teixeira was subject to a bail of 100 thousand euros, removed from public functions and has “an obligation not to remain or not to remain without permission in the municipality of Montalegri”, and the head of the department works had to pay a deposit of 50,000 euros and was barred “from the performance of public functions” in any institution owned or in which the municipality participates.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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