The mayor of Figueira da Foz, Pedro Santana Lopes, and the head of the Ferreira-a-Nova Parish Council, Susana Monteiro, engaged in a public exchange on social media this Saturday.
The conflict arose from the mayor not receiving an invitation to the reopening of a pool in the socialist-led parish, while, as he claimed, candidates from the Socialist Party (PS) did. However, the parish council president stated that no official invitations were specifically extended to any entity or party.
Ferreira-a-Nova is one of the 14 parishes within the Figueira da Foz municipality.
“I just learned that yesterday was the reopening of the Ferreira-a-Nova Pool, built during a previous term (guess whose)”, Pedro Santana Lopes mentioned on Facebook, alluding to one of several pools inaugurated during his first term, between 1998 and 2001. According to the Figueira da Foz mayor, renovations were made to the pool, including a “floor replacement, also paid for by the Municipal Council”.
“The pool is municipal. The Parish President, Susana Monteiro, from the Socialist Party, did not invite or inform me, yet invited and informed her party candidates for the local elections”, claimed Santana Lopes, who is running again for Figueira da Foz’s presidency with the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
The mayor further disclosed that he called the socialist Susana Monteiro to express his “deep dissatisfaction” about not being invited, reasoning that the mayor did not attend the parish day event.
“Imagine that. I attended last year. And even if I hadn’t, a mayor doesn’t have to go to every ceremony and should be invited”, criticized the Figueira da Foz mayor, labeling the incident as “regrettable”.
Parish President Asserts No Official Invitations Were Made
In response, Susana Monteiro, president of the parish with approximately two thousand inhabitants, stated on the same social platform that the event “had nothing to do with the renovations” performed at the pool and that “no specific or official invitations were made to any entity/party”.
“Respect, education, impartiality, and cordiality with everyone have always been highlighted in fulfilling the duties of President of Ferreira-a-Nova Parish and will continue until my last day in office, always defending the community’s best interests”, she remarked.
Susana Monteiro, in her second term, noted being “surprised by the call from the Figueira da Foz municipal president”, mentioning it was “the third or fourth during the four-year term” of Santana Lopes. According to the socialist mayor, the call “was abruptly, impolitely, and discourteously ended by him”.
She further explained that the “party in question” at the Municipal Pool of Ferreira-a-Nova “had nothing to do with the renovations”, being a “traditional opening party of the swimming season, held two weeks later this year than usual” due to the construction work.
“It’s a fact that no official invitation was made, primarily because it was not an inauguration, as no invitations were made for prior years’ opening parties, but apparently, this year, being an election year, makes this situation more significant and noteworthy for the president”, Susana Monteiro accused in a statement also shared on Facebook.
She highlighted that the pool’s opening event “is now a trademark of the parish”, with attendees consisting of “those who deemed it appropriate to attend from various political backgrounds, with no specific or official invitations extended to any entity/party”.
It’s noteworthy that Pedro Santana Lopes won the Figueira da Foz municipal elections in 2021, running as an independent with the movement ‘Figueira A Primeira’ (FAP).
The former prime minister has announced his candidacy for re-election to the Figueira da Foz mayoralty, scheduled for October 12, this time with support from the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
In the latest municipal elections in 2021, Santana Lopes ran for the Figueira da Foz municipal council as an independent with the movement ‘Figueira A Primeira’ (FAP).
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 07:31 – 30/01/2025
