The head of the Algarve’s Commission for Coordination and Regional Development (CCDR- Algarve) has been sacked, mainly because he is the head of the Algarve’s Social Democratic Party - the one that is not running the country any longer.
The pretext for dismissing David Santos was that he "had not met the conditions necessary to observe the guidelines issued by his superiors," but the fact the he is not a Left Bloc, Communist or Socialist politician has more to do with his removal than his work performance.
The Minister of Planning and Infrastructure, Pedro Marques, said the wheels already are in motion to find a (Socialist Party) replacement.
The odds-on favourite is Francisco Serra, the current director of the School of Management Hospitality and Tourism at the University of the Algarve and is a former administrator of Faro hospital.
In February, the leader of the Socialist Party in the Algarve called for David Santos to resign. António Eusébio reckoned that Santos’ election as regional leader of the PSD was incompatible with running the CCDR-A.
Eusébio said that given the position of the CCDR-Algarve, which in some respects acts as a regional government, it would be very difficult for Santos to be able to be able to separate the two roles.
David Santos has not issued a detailed statement about his dismissal, but made a short personal announcement.
These important posts are populated by political appointments. Other examples can be found in every aspect of Algarve and national public life where the word 'meritocracy' easily can be swapped for 'mediocrity.'
See also: 'CCDR-Algarve's David Santos refuses to quit over 'conflict of interests' accusations'
