The Portuguese Constitutional Court (TC) has upheld the decision regarding the removal of Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues from office. This decision originally made by the Vila Nova de Gaia court in November 2023 and later maintained by the Tribunal da Relação do Porto (TRP) in October 2024, follows an appeal lodged by the socialist mayor.
The TC found no constitutional violations in the ruling regarding his loss of mandate. However, Rodrigues’ defense has indicated plans to file a complaint, seeking further review in a TC conference.
Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues has declined to comment, stating, “There will be no declarations. The appeal at the TC remains, pending a final decision.”
In November 2023, the Vila Nova de Gaia court convicted Rodrigues of misappropriation of use, resulting in his removal from office and a fine of 8,400 euros for personal use of a municipal electric vehicle.
The court also imposed an identical fine on Rodrigues’ spouse, found guilty of the same offense, though both parties appealed to the TRP.
The TRP reduced Rodrigues’ fine to 4,800 euros but upheld the mandate loss. Meanwhile, Rodrigues’ wife was acquitted of the crime and the fine, though her advantage obtained was still considered a conviction.
Both Rodrigues and his wife, absent during the November 14, 2023 sentencing, have not testified throughout the proceedings.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office argued that the couple utilized a municipal electric vehicle, leased through a contract initiated on October 13, 2017, for personal benefit, amounting to improper use of 4,916 euros between November 2017 and June 2018.
Following this, the Porto Criminal Instruction Court ordered the case to trial in December 2021, based on the Public Prosecutor’s January 2021 charges.
Post the TRP decision, the local PSD branch in Gaia called for Rodrigues’ resignation, citing unfitness for office, echoed by similar concerns from the Porto Metropolitan Area’s leadership.
Rodrigues asserted, “I will not lose any mandate and will see my term through to completion,” following the TRP’s decision.
