Chega at the Municipal Assembly of Oeiras presented this Wednesday, March 25, a motion of censure against the municipal executive, considering that there is a “loss of political legitimacy for the exercise of functions” with the accusation of embezzlement against the president of the municipality.
In the motion that the Chega group delivered to the Municipal Assembly of Oeiras this Wednesday, and to which Lusa had access, it is demanded “the immediate assumption of political responsibilities, including the suspension of functions or resignation from positions, as a minimum condition of respect for citizens and democratic institutions”.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office accused the mayor, Isaltino Morais (independent), of the crimes of embezzlement and abuse of powers, and 22 other officials and municipal employees, of embezzlement, due to spending around 150 thousand euros on more than 1,400 meals paid for by the municipality, between 2017 and 2024, according to an order from the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon, which Lusa had access.
In the text of the motion, signed by Chega’s three municipal deputies – Francisco O’Neill, José Shirley and Filipa Lourinho – it is said that, on a political level, the facts described in the Public Ministry’s indictment are “absolutely incompatible with the exercise of public functions”, and therefore “serious political and institutional censure must be expressed against the mayor of Oeiras and the other defendants, for the alleged appropriation and abusive use of public funds, that is, family money”.
On the other hand, it is added, with this accusation there is a “loss of political legitimacy for the exercise of functions by the targeted incumbents, regardless of the judicial outcome, due to a clear breach of institutional trust”.
Rejecting that the facts reported in the complaint constitute “mere administrative irregularities, but rather, intentional conduct capable of forming serious criminal offenses”Chega considers that Isaltino Morais remaining in office “seriously compromises the credibility” of the municipality.
“It is certain that the principle of presumption of innocence exists, which must be respected, being legally unavoidable under criminal law, but which cannot be used as a justification to rule out political responsibility, which is governed by criteria of public ethics and the safeguarding of institutional trust”highlights the Chega municipal group, insisting that if Isaltino Morais remains in office “weakens the regular functioning of the executive body, damaging the image and reputation of the municipality of Oeiras”.
According to information available on the Oeiras Municipal Assembly website, the next meeting of that body is scheduled for Tuesday, at 3:00 pm.
The Oeiras Municipal Assembly is made up of 21 deputies elected by the Isaltino – Inovar Oeiras 25 (Inov25) movement, three from the PS, three from Chega, two from the Evoluir Oeiras coalition (Livre/BE/Volt), two from IL, one from the CDU (PCP/PEV) and one from the PAN. The five council presidents elected by Inov25 are also municipal deputies.
According to the Public Ministry, from the 2017-2021 municipal mandate, Isaltino Morais “drawn up a plan” and “established, without formalities, a practice that, whenever it was appropriate, after paying in restaurants the price due for the lunch, snack or dinner meals that he would eat and or that third parties accompanying him would eat, he would obtain reimbursement at the expense of public money allocated to the municipality”.
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