Social Democratic party councillors in São Brás de Alportel have accused the Socialist mayor, Vítor Guerreiro, of acting illegally from the start of his tenure and that he has left the council wide open to claims due to procedural irregularities.
The Social Democrats explain that since the inauguration of mayor Vítor Manuel Martins Guerreiro and other members of the executive branch elected by the Socialist Party, no decisions formally have been passed at a full meeting of the chamber.
In view of this, “such decisions have not become effective because they have not been duly adopted, as provided for in paragraph 4 of Article 57 of Law 75/2013," the Social Democrats argue in a well timed attack before the council elections this autumn.
Given the situation, the São Brás de Alportel Socials Democrats say that any citizen or company that considers itself prejudiced by council actions due to decisions taken at council meetings, has the legitimate right to denounce, complain and even apply for compensation for any damages caused by these illegal actions because they do not have the proper and duly approved legal status.
In view of the above, the Social Democrats have promised to lodge a formal complaint with the competent authorities - a complaint which no doubt will be used in election materials, despite it being unlikely that this complaint will have been heard and resolved before the São Brás de Alportel electorate chooses a mayor for the next four years.
If the allegation is found to be factual, the mayor should have known the procedures and indeed leaves the council open to claims.
The fact that the Social Democrats have not cited an example of the council being challenged by a dispossessed local or company, would lead observers to conclude that this is a challenge based on a theoretical set of circumstances, rather than a current financial threat.
