An armed robbery reportedly occurred at 15:47, with the assailant fleeing the scene shortly afterward, as mentioned in a press release noted by António Parada and Paulo Alves.
The candidate called the police to the location, and the authorities are handling the situation, according to the report.
Chega Party Member Suspected of Arson Released
A 43-year-old man suspected of igniting fires near Municipal Road 530 (EM530) in Montemor-o-Novo has been released but is subject to daily reporting requirements, as decided by the court, a GNR source revealed.
The GNR source informed agency Lusa that the individual, detained on Thursday for alleged forest fire-related crime in Montemor-o-Novo, Évora district, appeared for judicial questioning today at Évora Judicial Court.
The suspect remains free but is bound by several coercive measures, including daily check-ins at the local security force and a prohibition from entering forested areas with items that could set fires, stated a representative from Évora’s Territorial Command of the GNR.
The court ruled that the man must avoid contact with involved parties and is forbidden from purchasing incendiary objects, the source added.
The suspect, Marco Silva, is the campaign manager for Chega’s bid for Vendas Novas City Hall, led by Jorge Alcobia Pereira, confirmed Lusa. This follows reports aligning with this information.
“He is still officially the campaign manager, as it’s legally challenging to replace him,” the candidate stated.
However, Marco Silva “hasn’t been performing the role” as he “wanted to step down for some time,” the candidate justified, adding: “He wasn’t on the list, and we have no further contact with him.”
The Chega candidate for Vendas Novas City Hall stated that Marco Silva informed the campaign he intended to leave the party.
In the last municipal elections in 2021, Marco Silva led Chega’s list for Vendas Novas City Hall but was not elected, and he previously coordinated the party’s local chapter.
The source from Évora’s Territorial Command of GNR stated on Thursday that Silva was caught in the act on the roadside of EM530, which connects Cortiçadas de Lavre to the National Road 380 (EN380). After being spotted leaving his vehicle and setting fire to the roadside, he was detained.
“He possessed a lighter, an alcohol bottle, and newspapers,” tools allegedly used to start fires, the source said.
GNR personnel from Montemor-o-Novo’s Detachment had been investigating after multiple fire outbreaks emerged during nights earlier in the week in the area.
Following these incidents, “pasture was burnt, but Vendas Novas and Montemor-o-Novo firefighters quickly extinguished the fires,” the source noted.
In a press conference held today at the Chega headquarters in Lisbon, Chega President André Ventura demanded the initiation of an internal process aiming at expelling Marco Silva from the party.
“Yesterday, upon learning of the news, I personally requested the party’s Jurisdiction Council to proceed with expulsion if this person is still a member,” Ventura stated.
Ventura further claimed Silva “is a criminal who must be punished, like all others, with a long sentence to learn that both territory and people’s lives are not to be trifled with.”
The Chega President urged the start of an internal procedure to expel Marco Silva, Vendas Novas City Hall campaign manager, apprehended due to arson suspicions.
Lusa | 14:06 – 05/09/2025
