“I, as a candidate for the Câmara Municipal do Porto, unequivocally repudiate any form of violence, physical or verbal, in public or private spaces. The actions of Vasco Ribeiro, my campaign’s communication director, are indefensible and do not reflect the values I stand for, nor the stance I want for this candidacy and, above all, for the city,” stated Pedro Duarte in a statement.
Independent candidate Filipe Araújo lodged a complaint with the PSP today after allegedly being assaulted by PSD campaign communications head Vasco Ribeiro, who has since resigned from his position.
The incident reportedly happened on Thursday night at the VIP tent of the Primavera Sound Festival. A representative from Filipe Araújo’s campaign, who serves as the vice-president of the local government, informed at around 10:30 that a complaint concerning physical assault was filed at the Cedofeita police station in Porto.
Contacted by the press, Vasco Ribeiro mentioned that there were insults and shoves from both parties and announced that he had resigned from Pedro Duarte’s campaign. In a subsequent Facebook post, Ribeiro conveyed that he also plans to file a complaint for assault.
Emphasizing that “violence will never be a legitimate means of resolving any kind of disagreement,” Pedro Duarte confirmed that Vasco Ribeiro immediately tendered his resignation, prioritizing the interests of the candidacy and democratic debate above personal interests.
“His resignation has been accepted. With this gesture, we consider the matter concluded, treating it with the seriousness and responsibility the situation demands. Our candidacy will continue with calmness, respect, and a complete focus on building a more just, closer, and stronger Porto,” stated the PSD candidate.
PS candidate for Porto, Manuel Pizarro, described the alleged assault as “cowardly” on Facebook and indicated he had expressed his “solidarity” with the vice-president of the local government.
“I absolutely condemn the cowardly assault on the vice-president and candidate for the upcoming elections, Filipe Araújo, during the Primavera Sound Festival, by a prominent leader of the PSD campaign. I have already had the opportunity to express my solidarity with him and cannot refrain from publicly condemning the incident with vehemence,” reads the socialist’s post.
Manuel Pizarro emphasizes that he utterly rejects “violence,” considering it “even more incomprehensible and reprehensible in a political context.”
“I cannot admit that hatred and physical aggression contaminate the healthy political debate in the city of Porto, the city of Freedom. I will continue to campaign with joy, tranquility, and dignity. I will use all means and my strength to combat this basic and coarse approach to politics,” he concluded.
So far, confirmed candidacies for the Câmara do Porto include Manuel Pizarro for PS, Pedro Duarte for PSD, Diana Ferreira for CDU, Nuno Cardoso for Porto Primeiro, Vitorino Silva (Tino de Rans) for RIR, António Araújo for Porto à Porto, Aníbal Pinto for Nova Direita, Sérgio Aires for BE, and the current vice-president Filipe Araújo as an independent.
The current executive comprises six members elected by Rui Moreira’s independent movement, three by PS, two by PSD, one by CDU, and one by BE.
Municipal elections are expected to take place between September 22 and October 14 this year.
