ZAP // Mário Cruz / Lusa; CML
Sérgio Cintra and Carla Madeira, PS councilors at Lisbon City Council
At the center of the investigation are public contracts awarded to a company linked to a PS advisor, in procedures where competition may have only been apparent. The Public Ministry suspects that several socialist city halls have awarded contracts to companies linked to each other.
Two PS councilors at Lisbon City Council were named defendants as part of the investigation involving suspected irregularities in the awarding of public contracts by local authorities.
Sergio Cintra e Carla Madeirawho are part of the socialist team led by Alexandra Leitão in the municipality, were the target of home searches last Thursday, said the .
Neither of the two councilors intends to suspend functions at the Lisbon Chamber. Sérgio Cintra told the Observer that unaware of the specific content of the suspicions that led to his being accused, ensuring that he is available to collaborate with the authorities. Carla Madeira did not respond to the newspaper.
The Operation, which has so far 37 defendantsled to the arrest of five people. Among those detained were Duarte Moraladvisor to the secretary general of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, the wife, Ruth Reimãothe partner Rui Pedro Nascimento e Emilio Vázquez Blancobusinessman and former PSOE spokesperson.
Filipa Laborinhoa former councilor in the Oeiras Chamber, was arrested for illegal possession of a weapon and released hours later.
According to the Public Ministry, the operation investigates suspected crimes of malfeasance and economic participation in business related to the award of various contracts by municipal councils and parish councils.
At the center of the case is the company Emerging Dialoguelinked to Duarte Moral and Rui Pedro Nascimento, who would have benefited from contracts signed by socialist city halls.
Sérgio Cintra was elected councilor in Lisbon in October’s municipal elections, but before that between 2013 and 2025, he presided over the Parish Assembly of Santa Maria Maior, one of the municipalities at the center of the investigation.
During this time, the board president was in the process. Unlike the socialist councilors, Miguel Coelho suspended his mandate as municipal deputy after being accused.
Carla Madeira presided over the Misericórdia Parish Council between 2013 and 2025, before being elected councilor in Lisbon. It was precisely this council that celebrated the first contract with Diálogo Emergente, through prior consultation, for 22 thousand euros.
The companies Emerging Dialogueby Duarte Moral, and Ethereal Cityby Rute Reimão, competed against each other in the same procedure prior consultation procedure launched by the Parish Council of Santa Maria Maior, in January 2025, with the first winning. The Public Ministry suspects that the two companies will have prior consultation.
The Junta da Misericórdia was also the target of searches. The current president of the municipality, Carla Almeidaconfirmed to the Observer that a defendant was constituted, guaranteeing that the municipality collaborated with the authorities and will continue to be available to provide all necessary clarifications.
