João Noronha Lopes, candidate for president of Benfica, presented his income declarations live on CMTV, stating that he did so to “defend his own dignity” and guarantee transparency before his partners. The documents are now available on your campaign’s official website.
The former McDonald’s manager highlighted that all income is the result of his work and the career he built at the multinational, highlighting the role he played in 2017, when he led the team responsible for one of the company’s biggest businesses in Asia — the sale of the operation in China to local partners.
Noronha Lopes added that the campaign is mostly financed by himself, with only the help of a few friends. “This financial comfort allows me to apply to Benfica with a clear conscience regarding the source of my income and my financial future”, he stated.
The candidate also addressed the recent news about the company Vira Frangos, of which he holds 22% of the shares, explaining that the reported losses “were foreseen” and are part of the natural evolution of the business.
Noronha Lopes, however, considered the moment in which the news was released “strange”, coming shortly after announcing the intention to carry out an audit of Benfica’s accounts. “It’s a coincidence. I knew this would happen. When you run for public office, you have to be prepared. I will always show my face, I won’t hide behind announcements or communications directors”, he assured.
