The candidate for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) to the Porto City Council, Vasco Ribeiro, resigned on Friday after an independent candidate (and current vice-president) of the municipality filed a complaint with the authorities against him for alleged assault.
From the complaint to convictions, here’s what is known:
In a statement sent to newsrooms this morning, Filipe Araújo’s campaign reported a “regrettable assault” on the vice-president during the Primavera Sound festival in Porto.
“Last night, between concerts at Primavera Sound, Filipe Araújo, vice-president of the Porto City Council and independent candidate for the presidency of the Porto City Council through the independent movement Fazer à Porto, was the victim of physical assault by Vasco Ribeiro – the current communication officer for the campaign of Pedro Duarte, from the PSD,” reads the statement.
“At a time when the country is witnessing, with concern, an increase in episodes of violence,” the movement stated that such behavior cannot be “normalized – especially by those who should set an example.”
The assault allegedly occurred when Vasco Ribeiro approached Filipe Araújo and started a “conversation.” Then, “suddenly and violently, he grabbed the candidate and punched him in the face, followed by throwing a glass.”
The movement also described how the security team at the event was “immediately alerted,” and the presence of the Public Security Police (PSP) was “promptly summoned, who attended the scene and took note of the incident.”
“I have dedicated myself daily to Porto for 12 years and have never witnessed such behavior. I will not be deterred by anything or anyone. I will continue to stand with the same determination as always, working for Porto and the people of Porto,” said Filipe Araújo, quoted in the press release.
“I’m not proud.” Vasco Ribeiro admits “heated discussion” with Filipe Araújo
In a Facebook post, Vasco Ribeiro, who resigned following the incident, admitted to having a “heated discussion” with Filipe Araújo but stated it was “unrelated to the candidacy.”
“I categorically deny and repudiate the accusation of gratuitous assault against Eng. Filipe Araújo. What happened the previous night, and of which I am not proud, was a heated discussion regarding an old matter related to my departure from Porto City Council, which degenerated into insults and shoving from both sides. Although this episode has nothing to do with Eng. Filipe Araújo’s and Dr. Pedro Duarte’s candidacy, I felt, out of a sense of responsibility, to tender my resignation from the campaign direction,” wrote Vasco Ribeiro.
The former chief of staff of Rui Moreira further stated that he would also file a complaint with the authorities, claiming to have also been a victim of assault.
“Furthermore, I inform that I will file a complaint for the assaults I was subjected to. Everything else is nothing more than a vile attempt to drag into politics what is not political, but rather about the honor and integrity with which I have always conducted myself,” he concluded.
Pedro Duarte states adviser’s “attitude” is “indefensible”
Pedro Duarte, former minister and PSD candidate for Porto City Council, revealed that he accepted the resignation of his campaign’s communication director and classified the attitude as “indefensible.”
“I come, as a candidate for the Porto City Council, to clearly and unequivocally state my total repudiation of any form of violence, physical or verbal, in public or private spaces. The attitude of my campaign’s communication director, Vasco Ribeiro, is indefensible and does not reflect in any way the values I stand for nor the stance I want for this candidacy and especially for the city,” referred the social-democrat, in a statement.
The PSD candidate for Porto City Council, Pedro Duarte, accepted today the resignation of his campaign’s communication director, Vasco Ribeiro, accused of assault by the independent candidate Filipe Araújo, classifying the attitude as “indefensible.”
Lusa | 13:34 – 13/06/2025
Opponents condemn “cowardly” and “regrettable” assault
The Socialist Party (PS) candidate for Porto, former minister Manuel Pizarro, took to social media to “absolutely condemn the cowardly assault on the vice-president of the council and candidate for the upcoming elections, Filipe Araújo, during the Primavera Sound Festival, by a prominent leader in the PSD candidacy.”
“I have already had the opportunity to express my solidarity with him, and I cannot refrain from publicly condemning the incident,” reads the socialist’s post. Manuel Pizarro emphasized his total repudiation of “violence,” considering it “even more incomprehensible and condemnable in a political context.”
Meanwhile, Nuno Cardoso, from the Porto Primeiro movement, expressed in a statement sent to newsrooms his “most vehement repudiation of the regrettable events that occurred” at the Primavera Sound festival.
“Violence – physical, verbal, or symbolic – has no place in public life, nor should it, under any circumstances, be part of political or institutional debate. What happened is serious and shames Porto. The position of vice-president of the City Council demands respect, just as every citizen has the right to expect composure and elevation from their representatives,” he stressed.
So far, candidacies for Porto City Council have been confirmed for Manuel Pizarro, from the PS, Pedro Duarte, from the PSD, Diana Ferreira, from the CDU, Nuno Cardoso, from the Porto Primeiro movement, Vitorino Silva (known as Tino de Rans), from RIR, António Araújo, from the Porto à Porto movement, Aníbal Pinto, from Nova Direita, Sérgio Aires, from BE, and the current vice-president Filipe Araújo, also as an independent.
The current executive comprises six elected representatives from Rui Moreira’s independent movement, three elected from the PS, two from the PSD, one from the CDU, and one from the BE. The local elections are expected to take place between September 22 and October 14 this year.
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