Lisbon City Council Building
In addition to several decisions taken by the city hall, the contracts of councilor Joana Oliveira Costa’s team of advisors are now at stake.
The appointment of Joana Oliveira Costa as councilor of the Lisbon Chamber, in May this year, is being contested due to alleged irregularities in the processwhich is putting decisions taken by the city hall and the validity of the contracts of its team of advisors at risk.
The controversy involves seven advisors appointed by the councilor, five of whom are CDS activists, who could see their contracts annulled. Among the advisors are Enide Seixas, André Soure Dores, Teresa Dionísio, Paulo Lázaro and Emanuel Rodrigues, who earn monthly salaries between 2500 and 3752.50 euros, making up a annual cost close to 400 thousand eurosadvances .
Joana Oliveira Costa was chosen to replace Diogo Moura, who suspended his mandate after being involved in a case of electoral fraud, which was later archived. However, the process that led to his appointment would have been irregular.
According to Expresso, the now councilor, then 5th alternate member of the right-wing coalition, could only take office if all the previous candidates on the list had resigned or suspended their mandates. However, Nuno da Rocha Correia, who preceded her, did not formally refuse the position and continued to participate in chamber meetings.
The situation raises doubts decisions taken by the municipality since the arrival of Joana Oliveira Costa, including important projects such as the Economy and Innovation secretariats, which include events such as the Web Summit. Measures such as the approval of loans worth 130 million euros and the increase in the local tourist tax could also be at risk.
In response to the controversy, the city hall states that “there are no reasons that could affect the validity of the CML deliberations in which these councilors participated”, as, “there are two legal regimes” for full-time and replacement councilors, arguing that Rocha Correia’s unavailability to exercise his mandate does not equate to resignation.
