Benfica: on election day, Rui Costa accused of “particularly serious” act

President accused of sending a message to the presidents of Casas do Benfica, in the early hours of the morning. Noronha Lopes files a complaint.

It is an issue that is being highlighted this Saturday, the day of the second round of elections in Benfica – and the day of a new world record.

João Noronha Lopes announced that it will present a complaint formally to the President of the Board of the Benfica General Assembly.

At issue is a message sent by Rui Costa’s candidacy to some presidents of Casas do Benfica.

The message reads: “We send this special message from Rui Costa, candidate for President of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. We thank you for your tireless effort and dedication, as well as that of your governing bodies. Today, we are counting on you again. We will mobilize family, friends and neighbors so that, next Saturday, we can reach the mark of 100 thousand voters. Thank you. Thank you also for your work on the 25th and now also next Saturday, in the 2nd Round of these elections. The Candidacy ‘Only the Benfica Matters’”.

The indicates that the message was already sent last Thursday, two days before the elections; but some Casas do Benfica only received this Saturday morning, already election day.

One of the candidates for vice-president of the Board of the General Assembly on the João Noronha Lopes list, João Marecos, said that this message is “particularly serious”.

“The electoral act takes place simultaneously in all Houses of Benfica, led by their presidents who, in some cases, even lead the voting section, in others they chose the person who is leading that section. Sending a message appealing to vote on List G, on the very day of the elections, to people who are fulfilling an important role, maintaining the guarantee of the integrity of the electoral act, is particularly serious”, commented Marecos, in conversation with journalists outside the Stadium’s pavilions. da Luz, when he went to vote.

Later, Rui Costa’s candidacy issued a statement on the matter: he assures that it is electoral campaign content issued during the official period (Thursday and Friday until midnight) for this purpose.

The statement also highlights that the message was accompanied by a video, sent “from a mobile phone number belonging to the candidate” – while “there were those who made telephone contacts”.

“There is no confusion at all. In fact, there never was,” the statement continues.

Rui Costa’s candidacy source added that “about 10 that didn’t get in were sent yesterday (Friday) again, but during the day. Nothing was sent early in the morning”, he guaranteed.

By 4pm, they had voted 63,502 members from Benfica. It’s a new world record (Guinness did not recognize those in the first round because no president was elected).