The Aço group at the Matosinhos Municipal Assembly announced that the Court of Auditors had participated in a loan of EUR 65 million from the House, alleging irregularities in the procedure.
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22/10/2026
by
Lusa
O group of Aço in the Municipal Assembly of Matosinhos announced today having participated in the Court of Auditors (TdC) a loan of 65 million euros from the city, which was done by the municipality for being mandatory by law.
According to a statement by municipal deputy Paulo Alves, this is “irregularities in the procedure of the EUR 64.97 million loan”.
According to the Arrivo, the prior authorisation of the multiannual charges was requested by the Assembly 47 days after the opening of the procedure, when the bank proposals had already been evaluated.
“Participation asks whether there was sufficient prior authorisation or an applicable legal exception”, can be read in the note.
Asked by Lusa, the Câmara de Matosinhos recalled that “the loan goes to the TdC to obtain the visa, because it is mandatory”, and that “this explanation has already been given in the Municipal Assembly”, on Monday, in a session in which the Aquida voted against.
The Aquisa also questions about “the criteria of choice, the comparison of financial conditions and the regularity of the audience of stakeholders”.
For Paulo Alves, “if vices with legal relevance are confirmed”, these may lead to refusal of a visa by the TdC, preventing the execution of the contract.
In its written reply to Lusa, the House led by Luísa Salgueiro (PS) clarifies that the loan in question “complys with all the instructions of the Court of Auditors, namely the TdC’s instructions for borrowing”.
“ The municipality sees the visa as a desirable step, because it is a guarantee that ensures the proper execution of the process ", adds.
In question is the hiring of a loan approved on September 2nd in executive meeting, with votes against PSD and Arrivo councilors, of which 40 million euros are intended for construction and housing rehabilitation.
According to the proposal that was under discussion at the public meeting of the municipal executive, and to which Lusa had access, the remaining EUR 25 million will be for the rehabilitation of gymnastic pavilions and for the requalification of streets, the marginal of Leça da Palmeira and Quinta da Conceição.
The municipality explained that this medium and long-term loan will serve to finance “structural investments” in priority areas such as housing, public space/mobility, education/sport and environment by 2029.
In the justification of the vote against, the PSD alderman Bruno Pereira said that the loan impacts on future mandates, stressing that the municipality's debt increases to EUR 105.7 million.
Also the councilman of the Arrival António Parada pointed out the increase in debt to vote against, considering that in a possible emergency situation the chamber may not have, in the future, response capacity.