“The decision by councilwoman Catarina Miranda represents a clear political misalignment and a profoundly mistaken interpretation of responsibility, commitment, and loyalty towards the Somos Braga (PS/PAN) coalition and, above all, the more than 26,000 Braga residents who entrusted us with their vote,” the statement said.
Pedro Sousa, reacting to Catarina Miranda’s decision to accept portfolios from the president elected by the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition, stated that the formal freedom of the mandate does not erase the ethical and moral responsibility to respect the intent that gave rise to it.
“In this context, accepting to join the municipal executive via an external invitation to the political force that elected her constitutes, unquestionably, a clear deviation from that responsibility,” he added.
In the local elections on October 12, the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition, led by João Rodrigues, won the Braga City Council, securing three executive seats, the same number as the PS/PAN coalition and the independent movement Amar e Servir Braga. Both the Liberal Initiative and Chega each elected one councilor.
João Rodrigues subsequently initiated negotiations with the “number one” from each force that elected councilors to find a governance solution.
For the PS/PAN coalition, Catarina Miranda was the interlocutor since the list leader, António Braga, renounced his councilor position.
On Wednesday, the municipality announced that Catarina Miranda would take on portfolios in Culture, Cultural Heritage, and Artistic Education, becoming an independent councilor.
Pedro Sousa emphasized that throughout the negotiation, “the PS was never contacted” by João Rodrigues.
According to the socialist leader, João Rodrigues’s decision to negotiate only with the first of each represented force is “a weak argument, and even undemocratic,” amounting to “an attempt to diminish and attack the PS.”
Pedro Sousa stressed that PS “made it clear,” from the beginning, “its full openness and availability to dialogue, discuss, and explore a potential governance model for the municipal council that could constitute a solid, stable, and lasting solution.”
He pointed out that João Rodrigues is already “diminished” should he, “faced with the fragile relative majority with which he decided to govern, try to play the victim regarding the positions and options of the different opposition forces.”
Pedro Sousa recalled that the PS/PAN coalition “was about two hundred votes” away from winning the Braga City Council, won a majority of the parish councils, and, with both elected members and parish presidents, holds the largest group in the Municipal Assembly.
“These results confirm the political, social, and territorial strength of the PS in the Municipality and are not diminished by individual decisions that, for inexplicable reasons, deviate from the commitment made to the people of Braga,” he further stated.
He assured that the PS will continue to exercise “firm, demanding, and responsible opposition, but will never do so, as it is neither in its history nor its tradition, driven by any feeling of revenge.”
Attempts were made to reach Catarina Miranda for comments, but she declined to make any statements.
On Wednesday, in a note sent to a Braga radio station, she stated she accepted the portfolios because she believes this is where she can be most useful to the city.
“I understood that accepting the delegation of competencies means being in the place that allows me to fulfill the reason that brought me here: to care for the culture and heritage of the city of Braga,” she argued.
She also mentioned that Braga now has “a plural executive” and that circumstances “require councilors to work in cooperation, without barriers or flags, in favor of public interest.”
“I believe in honoring the votes of the Braga citizens who expect this mandate to translate into work,” she concluded.
