“There is some astonishment and curiosity about this action. We would like to know what contracts are involved, which projects are at play, and whether they involve community funding,” said Councillor Dionísio Mendes, leader of the movement, emphasizing that this information “was not clear in the municipal council’s statement.”
The councilman, who is a former president of the municipality, indicated the need to “wait for the investigations to be completed and to know everything exactly,” reminding that “such situations occur” and “there are other councils where this also happens.”
When asked if the operation raises doubts about the local management, Dionísio Mendes declined to speculate: “Not for now. As we know, this stems from an anonymous complaint. The current management has nothing to do with this issue, it relates to the previous administration, but let’s wait and see the basis.”
The leader of “Volta Coruche” stressed that the movement has “no information to raise doubts” regarding administrative procedures and reiterated that their main demand for transparency is the broadcasting of council meetings and municipal assemblies.
“We heavily insist on this, but it has not been possible yet. The council says it is organizing things, but we would like this to happen with utmost urgency,” he emphasized.
The Judiciary Police confirmed on Thursday that they are conducting searches at the Coruche Municipal Council without providing details on the operation. The investigations aim to uncover potential illegal practices in local management, specifically regarding the use of European funds and the contracting of public services and works.
In a statement, the municipality in the district of Santarém assured “total availability to provide all requested clarifications” and highlighted its “firm commitment to transparency, rigor, and responsibility in public management,” principles it assures “will continue to guide the administration of the municipality.”
The council, led by Nuno José Azevedo (PS), noted with surprise that “information regarding the operation was publicly disclosed before the Judiciary Police entered the town hall premises and already referenced the scope of the investigations.”
“Naturally, we found it strange,” the municipality wrote.
Nuno Azevedo was elected in the October local elections, succeeding Francisco Oliveira, also from the PS. The Socialist Party received 32% of the votes and secured three mandates, as did the independent movement “Volta Coruche,” led by Dionísio Mendes, a former council president previously elected by the PS.
