Caminha’s PSD today called for the mayor’s resignation for lack of “political credibility” to continue in office, but Rui Lajes assured Lusa that he will not leave office
Contacted by the Lusa bureau, regarding a note sent today by the local structure of the PSD, the social democratic councilor who is part of the coalition bench “O Concelho em Primeiro” in the municipal administration, Liliana Silva, accused Rui Lajes of it subjected Caminha “to the greatest disgrace in living memory”.
“Obviously it’s not possible [para exercer funções de presidente da Câmara]🇧🇷 Him [Rui Lajes] caused the municipality of Caminha to experience the greatest embarrassment in memory. On November 2, he said at the parliamentary meeting that the deal would be maintained, that the contract was in order, that it would only be changed and that he would then take it to the parliamentary meeting. After all, today, out of political cowardice, afraid to meet the city council that we convened yesterday [quarta-feira, em reunião camarária]comes to say that it will ultimately lead to the termination of the contract,” said Liliana Silva.
On Wednesday, the Câmara de Caminha unanimously approved the resolution of the contract for the construction of the multi-purpose pavilion signed by the former deputy secretary of state of Prime Minister Miguel Alves as president of the municipality, due to non-compliance by the promoter.
The alderman in the college emphasized that Rui Lajes was “always on the side of the promoter, the former mayor [Miguel Alves] and never next to the municipality of Caminha”.
“For these reasons, for causing and causing all this embarrassment to our municipality and for the fact that in this way through bad management we have lost 300 thousand euros, which we do not even know if we will get back (. .. ) I think that he [Rui Lajes] has no political conditions to remain at the forefront of the destiny of the municipality of Caminha,” he stressed.
Despite not being a municipal deputy, Liliana Silva said she believes that the resignation of Rui Lajes will be presented tonight at the extraordinary session of the city council, at the request of the coalition “O Concelho em Primeiro” (PSD/CDS-PP / Aliança/PPM ) to discuss the contract, approved in 2020, which provided for the construction of a Transfrontier Exhibition Center (CET).
The Prime Minister’s former deputy secretary of state, Miguel Alves, is under investigation by the Public Prosecution Service (MP) for signing that contract when he was mayor of Caminha.
“How is it that in the face of a scandal like this – a secretary of state has to resign immediately because he cannot continue in office – how is it that this mayor, who approved this two years ago, who has always remained by the promoter and Miguel Alves, even here 15 days ago, do you still think you have the qualifications to head a municipality like Caminha, after all the disgrace we’ve been through?” he wondered.
Speaking to the Lusa bureau, socialist mayor Rui Lajes guaranteed he will not resign, saying this is the “easiest strategy for those in the opposition, asking those in power” to stop “executing”.
Rui Lajes assured that he was “always 100% available, both in extraordinary and ordinary meetings, to clarify citizens and deputies”.
“I am, as I have always been, steadfast in responding to the people of the municipality of Caminha. And if the deputies want clarification, that’s exactly what I will do, because it is up to the mayor to clarify for the Assembly “, he emphasized.
Rui Lages added that he had tried to “bring this process to a successful conclusion”, but “with all the negotiating doors of political diplomacy closed, the city council made the decision it had to make”, according to his proposal.
“I am steadfast and with my head held high to face whatever challenges are presented to us.
On Wednesday, Rui Lajes said he will “activate the legal mechanisms so that the City Council has in its power the money advanced as rent for the twenty-fifth year of the lease for the CET and for all other necessary procedures”.
It concerns a value of 369 thousand euros, 69 thousand euros VAT and 300 thousand euros rent.
Source: DN
