As the deadline for submitting local election candidate lists on August 18 approaches, political parties with parliamentary seats were queried about their criteria for evaluating the ethics of their candidates.
In statements, the PS municipal coordinator, André Rijo, emphasized that the party applies the same ethical criteria for selecting candidates for local elections as it does for legislative elections. This means accepting individuals who have been formally accused but not those indicted by a judge.
“There is no requirement for candidates to sign an ethical commitment, but a standard has been set for parliamentary candidates which, in some way, applies to all PS candidates,” Rijo stated, noting that the party typically does not request criminal background checks from candidates.
Apart from criteria related to legal matters, Rijo highlighted that during the PS Municipal Convention, scheduled for September 6 in Coimbra, the party will outline a set of commitments local officials must adopt regarding public policies.
This “guiding charter” will incorporate several objectives associated with human rights, democracy, and commitments in areas such as the environment, housing, and health, described by Rijo as “fundamental rights.”
For Chega, the leadership requires potential candidates to provide their criminal records, as well as certificates of no debt to the Tax Authority and Social Security, which are essential for initiating any recruitment process, according to the party’s secretary-general, Pedro Pinto.
Pinto further noted that Chega’s list leaders undergo interviews with the party’s national structure to determine if they align with the party’s values.
The same approach is taken by Iniciativa Liberal, which requests criminal records from its list leaders and conducts interviews as part of its strategy to attract new talent during the local elections.
On the left, Livre asks its candidates to commit to a Code of Ethics, which includes principles such as “adhering to rules of civility,” rejecting discrimination, and “acting transparently and honestly within and outside the party.”
Beyond this document, Livre establishes a commitment agreement that must be signed by the candidate, requiring “agile and good-faith communication” with the party, adherence to its policies, and keeping the party informed of their activities.
The CDU, in a statement, noted that its candidates commit to ethical and political integrity in office, without specifying whether they require documents like criminal records.
The BE asks its candidates to adhere to the party’s Municipal Manifesto, a 25-page document that pledges to support public construction, combat environmental degradation, and develop policies favoring a strong National Health Service and quality public education.
Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) stipulates that candidates should be bound by a Declaration of Principles, which includes upholding values like liberty, democracy, and a liberal society.
The PSD, CDS-PP, and PAN did not respond in time when asked about the documentation required from candidates to assess their integrity.
