The head of the coalition list, Social Democrat Hugo Oliveira, stated that ballot boxes were violated at least at three voting tables in the parish of Nossa Senhora do Pópulo, which has the largest number of voters in the municipality.
The deputy claimed to have “photos, videos, and witnesses” indicating the ballot boxes were opened “to tamper with them” after votes had been cast.
“We have videos of people tampering inside the ballot boxes,” he emphasized, considering it a “serious irregularity” that leads the candidacy to challenge the elections in the Caldas da Rainha municipality in the Leiria district.
Sunday’s elections in Caldas da Rainha resulted in a victory for the Independent Movement Vamos Mudar (VM), which re-elected the current president Vítor Marques.
In 2021, VM captured the municipal leadership that had been held by PSD since April 25.
In these elections, the independent movement secured 9,460 votes (37.67%), electing the president and two councilors. The list included members of the PS, which chose not to present its own candidacy.
The AD (PSD/CDS-PP) achieved 9,320 votes (37.11% of the vote) and elected three councilors to the executive. Chega also elected a councilor for the first time.
To Lusa, Hugo Oliveira admitted “acknowledging the defeat” and clarified that contesting the elections is not related to the coalition’s results.
However, he said, “it is ironic [someone tampering with votes] when talking about a municipal election, not a student association election.”
Arguing that “there must be respect and a sense of responsibility,” the Social Democrat stated he will file a complaint with the National Elections Commission (CNE), which “will follow the process and make the necessary decisions,” he concluded.
