No more Matosinhos requires urgent answers about PJ searches in the chamber

Ocouncilors of the Aquida in the House of Matosinhos demanded today the socialist executive “urgent clarifications” on the searches that the Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out on Thursday in this autarchy of Porto district.

In a statement signed by the councilors António Parada and Sérgio Meira, the elect of Aquida announce that they submitted a request addressed to the mayor of Matosinhos, Luísa Salgueiro (PS), to demand clarifications on the searches “related to press advisory services and elements related to 2023”.

The Cávez wants to “know the scope of the actions and the municipal procedures covered, as well as identify who performed the functions of press advisory, what their connection and who held the political protection of communication”.

In the text, the councilors say they want to “also know who defined, authorized and supervised the work carried out, and what interventions had the presidency, executive members and municipal officials in the acts concerned”.

Requesting a written answer “urgently” and preferably before the next week’s chamber meeting, António Parada and Sérgio Meira still question when Luisa Willow had knowledge of this matter and what information was transmitted to the other members of the executive, as well as whether internal investigations were determined.

Safeguarding that they respect “the presumption of innocence and the elements subject to secrecy of justice”, the councilors of the Ache “also require the presidency to clarify what political responsibilities it recognizes in the supervision of these services and what consequences it undertakes to withdraw if irregularities are found”.

“[ The councilors argue that collaboration with the judicial authorities should be accompanied by clarification to local elected and municipalities. The investigation is up to the judicial authorities, but it is up to the mayor to clarify the municipalities about the operation of these services and their political supervision”, they add.

PJ conducted searches on Thursday in the House of Matosinhos as part of an ongoing inquiry into press advisory services, confirmed the municipality.

“The Municipality of Matosinhos confirms that the Judiciary Police was in the municipal facilities”, said the municipality of Porto district, after being questioned by Lusa.

The municipality provided all the requested collaboration and made available the required documentation, noted.

Moreover, the municipality added that the information collected is related to the year 2023.

“The council considers that this type of diligence is common in public administration,” he said.