🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[Mike88]

Democratic Alliance (PSD/CDS/PPM) and CDU (PCP/PEV coalition) approved their lists and announced their list head candidates by district:

PSD/CDS/PPM - Democratic Alliance:

Azores: Paulo Moniz, incumbent MP;
Aveiro: Emídio Sousa, mayor of Santa Maria da Feira;
Beja: Gonçalo Valente
Braga: Hugo Soares, secretary-general of the PSD;
Bragança: Hernâni Dias, mayor of Bragança city;
Castelo Branco: Liliana Reis
Coimbra: Rita Júdice
Évora: Sónia Ramos, incumbent MP;
Faro: Miguel Pinto Luz, deputy leader of the PSD and deputy mayor of Cascais (Lisbon district);
Guarda: Dulcineia Moura
Leiria: Telmo Faria, former mayor of Óbidos;
Lisbon: Luís Montenegro, PSD leader;
Madeira: Pedro Coelho, mayor of Câmara de Lobos;
Portalegre: Rogério Silva, mayor of Fronteira;
Porto: Miguel Guimarães, former president of the Order of Physicians;
Santarém: Eduardo Oliveira e Sousa, former president of the Confederation of Farmers of Portugal;
Setúbal: Teresa Morais, former Culture minister (2015);
Viana do Castelo: José Aguiar-Branco, former Defense minister (2011-15);
Vila Real: Amílcar Almeira, mayor of Valpaços;
Viseu: António Leitão Amaro, deputy leader of the PSD;
Europe: Carlos Gonçalves, former MP;
Outside Europe: José Cesário, former MP;

5 female list heads (23%) vs 17 male list heads (77%)

CDS leader Nuno Melo will be the number 2 in the Porto list, and Paulo Núncio (CDS) number 4 in Lisbon. CDS will then be awarded the 16th place in both Porto and Lisbon, 10th in Aveiro and 11th in Braga. PPM is only given the 19th place in Lisbon.

CDU - Unitary Democratic Coalition:

Azores: Judite Barros da Costa
Aveiro: Joana Dias
Beja: João Dias, incumbent MP;
Braga: Sandra Cardoso
Bragança: Fátima Bento
Castelo Branco: Jorge Fael
Coimbra: Fernando Teixeira
Évora: Alma Rivera, incumbent MP;
Faro: Catarina Marques
Guarda: José Pedro Branquinho
Leiria: João Paulo Delgado
Lisbon: Paulo Raimundo, PCP leader;
Madeira: Sílvia Vasconcelos
Portalegre: Fátima Dias
Porto: Alfredo Maia, incumbent MP;
Santarém: Bernardino Soares, former MP and former mayor of Loures (Lisbon district);
Setúbal: Paula Santos, PCP caucus leader;
Viana do Castelo: Joaquim Celestino Ribeiro
Vila Real: José Luís Ferreira, PEV member;
Viseu: Alexandre Hoffman Castela
Europe: Joana Carvalho
Outside Europe: Ana Oliveira

11 female list heads (50%) vs 11 male list heads (50%)

[Mike88]

Reporter harassed in a CHEGA event at a Lisbon university by students:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1747360054016156064

Expresso journalist was watching the student initiative with André Ventura when he was attacked and forced to leave the room where the conference was taking place.

CHEGA leader André Ventura took part, this Tuesday, in an event organized by the student's association of a Lisbon private university, the Catholic University. The association forbid any kind of filming of the event, but didn't specified any other prohibitions. However, a Expresso newspaper reporter that was covering the CHEGA campaign was harassed by young students, having his movements arrested and then being grabbed by his arms and legs to the exit door, with all his belongins still inside the room. In the outside, one of Ventura's security guards treated the reporter with "harshness", and the situation only ended when the party's press officer drove away the security guard and escorted the reporter out of the building.

[Mike88]

2024 general elections: Setúbal wins a seat, Viana do Castelo loses one.

The seat distribution by district suffered one change compared with 2022, with Setúbal district winning one seat and Viana do Castelo losing one. The Electoral Commission presented the official distribution of seats yesterday, and also revealed that 10,819,122 voters will be registered to vote in this election, 9,272,592 in Portugal alone, and 1,546,530 overseas. The final seat presentation by district is the following:

    5 Azores
  16 Aveiro
    3 Beja
  19 Braga
    3 Bragança
    4 Castelo Branco
    9 Coimbra
    3 Évora
    9 Faro
    3 Guarda
  10 Leiria
  48 Lisbon
    6 Madeira
    2 Portalegre
  40 Porto
    9 Santarém
  19 Setúbal (+1)
    5 Viana do Castelo (-1)
    5 Vila Real
    8 Viseu
    2 Europe
    2 Outside Europe

230 Total

The method used to elect MPs is the D'hondt method and there's no official threshold to win seats

[Mike88]

Reporter harassed in a CHEGA event at a Lisbon university by students:

Ventura has reacted by saying he had nothing to do with the incident and blames the Catholic University. He went on saying that there are "hundreds" of witnesses and that the Prosecutor should talk to them, adding that those same witnesses are saying on social media that the reporter also provoked students. At the same time, the Expresso newspaper reporter has filed a police complaint regarding his harassment, while Público newspaper found out the one of the students that harassed the reporter is a Liberal Initiative (IL) member. The party already said that they "condemn violence" and will always defend freedom of the press.

[Mike88]

A few other updates:

- TAP airlines returned to "haunt" Pedro Nuno Santos: In the ongoing lawsuit between the airline and TAP's former CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener, regarding her firing from the company, the defense of TAP was revealed: The airline says that Ms. Widener didn't had a CV worthy of leading a top airline company and that her management, in which TAP returned to profits, wasn't that impressive as every other airline achieved higher profits after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the middle of all this is Pedro Nuno Santos, who hired Ms. Widener as CEO of TAP and has been praising the "great results" of TAP under his tenure as minister. This defense of TAP in the lawsuit is a bit of an embarrassment for PNS, who, nonetheless, continues to press on the good results of TAP and tries to downplay the rest;

- In the AD coalition, who is failing, so far, in making any breakthrough, the controversial PPM leader, Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira, is being silenced in order to not embarrass the Alliance. Sábado magazine reports that he's been "complaining" to some within his party that he has "express orders" from the PSD to not speak at all. Within his own party, many argue that he's, right now, a "toxic active". Will he be able to remain silent until 10 March? We'll see;

- Carla Castro, IL MP and leadership candidate last year, where she got 44%, announced she is leaving the Liberals after being sidelined during the process of selecting candidates to the lists. She says that she is disappointed in the path the party is taking and that this is the right time to announce her exit from the party;

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

I made a meme to summarize the last two years of political life in Portugal.

[Mike88]

I made a meme to summarize the last two years of political life in Portugal.

To have that "Portuguese touch", the perfect line would be "Não tá mau". But, yeah, pretty much. Although Portugal is basically in the same boat as every other country.

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

I made a meme to summarize the last two years of political life in Portugal.

To have that "Portuguese touch", the perfect line would be "Não tá mau". But, yeah, pretty much. Although Portugal is basically in the same boat as every other country.

Making due with what's available in your boat is something Portuguese people have done multiple times before. Though real life does throw you many storms.
It is what it is.

[Mike88]

A few more updates:

- New poll: Consulmark2 poll for Sol newspaper and Euronews:

Vote share %:

28% PSD/CDS/PPM (-10)
27% PS (+3)
18% CHEGA (+6)
  7% BE (-2)
  6% IL (+1)
  3% CDU (nc)
  2% Livre (-1)
  1% PAN (nc)
  8% Others/Invalid (+3)

Q1: Best profile to be Prime Minister?

34.8% Luís Montenegro
31.1% Pedro Nuno Santos
22.3% Both
11.7% Undecided

Q2: Who will win the elections?

63% PS
24% PSD/CDS/PPM
13% Undecided

Poll conducted between 11 and 17 January 2024. Polled 801 voters. MoE of 3.50%.

- Remember the PSD MP, Maló de Abreu, who left the party last week and "denied, denied, denied" that he was going to CHEGA? Well, he IS going to CHEGA and will be a candidate for the overseas constituency of Outside Europe. Talk about credibility ;

- Also, the PSD lists in some areas are infuriating party members. In Setúbal district, 2 list members have resigned from the lists, citting disappointement in their placing, and in others districts party members are "furious" with the lists and are very worried about the prospects of the AD coalition;

- The same AD coalition which, tomorrow Sunday 21 January, will organize a convention in an attempt to "shore up" their image and media presence, but it is already overshadowed by the absence of former PM Passos Coelho, who, according to the media, wasn't even invited. On the other hand, former CDS leader Paulo Portas will be a guest speaker. In reaction, PSD leader Luís Montenegro said, a little bothered, that the people "don't care" if Passos is present or not in the convention;

[Mike88]

Left Bloc (BE) unveils their election manifesto: NMW increase, 4-day week and rent capping in a manifesto called "Do what has never been done".

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1748781716205129934

"Do what has never been done": find out about the Left Bloc's electoral program here

Mariana Mortágua, BE leader, presented this afternoon the party's manifesto for the March 2024 elections. The manifesto called "Do what has never been done" focus on housing, the NHS and education and during the launch, Mortágua accused the PS of creating several crises and challenges PNS to reach an understanding with them. The main policies are the following:

- VAT reduction to 6% on gas, electricity and communications;
- Solidarity tax on big fortunes;
- Introduction of a windfall tax;
- Creation of the Citizenship Social Income, which would unify several current supports;
- Forbid of house sales to non residents (expect Portuguese immigrants and foreigners living in Portugal);
- Limits on Airbnbs;
- Rent capping;
- Creation of the reference nurse for each family;
- Abortion access in all Portuguese territory;
- 100% medication reimbursement for those earning less than the NMW;
- Total recuperation of teachers frozen career and wage progressions;
- 125,000 new vacancies in public kindergartens;
- NMW of 900 in 2024, plus 50 euros due to inflation;
- Shift allowance and minimum periods of rest between shifts;
- Implementation of a 35 hour work week and a 4-day week;
- Paid leave of 5 days per year for more time with family;

[Mike88]

More problems in AD: Nuno Melo "floats" the idea of supporting a PS minority, but is forced to retract his idea by PSD orders.

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1749026858572636460

Melo's "childhood" causes embarrassment to Montenegro. "Slipped on a banana peel"

During an interview to CNN Portugal, CDS leader Nuno Melo suggested that the AD coalition would let a PS minority govern even if there is a rightwing majority. This suggestion created big fury within the PSD, who do not even contemplate supporting Pedro Nuno Santos in any situation, plus the suggestion "tarnishes" the tactical vote strategy of the coalition against the PS. CHEGA leder, André Ventura, quickly "took the bait" and asked the AD if they were really thinking about supporting the PS. And of course, in a bit of an embarrasing U-turn, Melo was forced to say "no" to any kind of support to a PS minority. The PSD also presses that they will not support a center-left government.

[Mike88]

Democratic Alliance (AD) convention: Montenegro promises to reconcile with pensioners and settle young people in Portugal

Luís Montenegro's speech at the AD Convention in Estoril, Cascais city

The convention started with "two clouds" over it: Nuno Melo's gaffe surrounding a possible support of a PS minority, and the absence of former PM Passos Coelho. Former CDS leader Paulo Portas was the main keynote speaker, and he asked for a strong victory saying that the PS needs an "opposition cure". He warned that the election is not decided yet and that there is a lot of "manipulation", "confusion" and "hopelessness" in Portuguese society. He added that PNS in not qualified to be Prime Minister, saying a future PS government would be the most radical since 1976. Former PM and incumbent Figueira da Foz mayor Santana Lopes also appeared, by surprise, and praised Montenegro for being clear in his goals, saying he underestimated him.

In his closing speech, Luís Montenegro said that the convention was sign of "strength", "energy" and "victory", adding that the Alliance has three assumptions: "a new attitide, new goals, and new politics", and that a "good government is on the way" with competence and responsability. He promissed to reconcile with pensioners saying he will work to fight isolation, loneliness and poverty in older generations. For young people, he promissed to "give them a future", proposing tax cuts for younger families. Still on taxes, Montenegro proposes to cut income and corporate taxes, pressing that there is no "developed country without a strong middle class". On healthcare, he proposed an emergency plan between the NHS and the private sector in order cut waiting lists for operations, exams and doctor's appointments. He finalized by saying he's not "radical" nor prone to "adventures" and that he trusts in the wisdom of the Portuguese.

[Mike88]

- Remember the PSD MP, Maló de Abreu, who left the party last week and "denied, denied, denied" that he was going to CHEGA? Well, he IS going to CHEGA and will be a candidate for the overseas constituency of Outside Europe. Talk about credibility ;

And another one goes: Rui Cristina, PSD MP from Faro, also leaves the party and is set to become a candidate for CHEGA.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1749406002586251637

Chega recruits another PSD MP. Rui Cristina will be head list for Évora

After Maló de Abreu, another PSD MP has announced he is leaving the party and is set to be a candidate in CHEGA's lists. Rui Cristina, MP from Faro district, said he is leaving the PSD because he accuses the leadership of "imposing candidates" and of "permanent quarrels for power". In the AD lists, Mr. Cristina had been demoted. He hasn't confirmed he will be a CHEGA candidate, saying he's still "refecting", but CHEGA has already confirmed to the media that he will be a candidate.

Maló de Abreu and Rui Cristina were strongly aligned with Rui Rio's leadership, and now go to CHEGA? This is almost the equivalent of Bernie Sanders becoming a GOP candidate.

[oldtimer]

- Remember the PSD MP, Maló de Abreu, who left the party last week and "denied, denied, denied" that he was going to CHEGA? Well, he IS going to CHEGA and will be a candidate for the overseas constituency of Outside Europe. Talk about credibility ;

And another one goes: Rui Cristina, PSD MP from Faro, also leaves the party and is set to become a candidate for CHEGA.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1749406002586251637

Chega recruits another PSD MP. Rui Cristina will be head list for Évora

After Maló de Abreu, another PSD MP has announced he is leaving the party and is set to be a candidate in CHEGA's lists. Rui Cristina, MP from Faro district, said he is leaving the PSD because he accuses the leadership of "imposing candidates" and of "permanent quarrels for power". In the AD lists, Mr. Cristina had been demoted. He hasn't confirmed he will be a CHEGA candidate, saying he's still "refecting", but CHEGA has already confirmed to the media that he will be a candidate.

Maló de Abreu and Rui Cristina were strongly aligned with Rui Rio's leadership, and now go to CHEGA? This is almost the equivalent of Bernie Sanders becoming a GOP candidate.

I don't think that Alliance is working.

A larger pool of candidates is fighting for a smaller number of available seats.

While CHEGA has the inverse issue, of trying to find candidates for an expected larger number of seats.

[Mike88]

I don't think that Alliance is working.

A larger pool of candidates is fighting for a smaller number of available seats.

While CHEGA has the inverse issue, of trying to find candidates for an expected larger number of seats.

That the AD is not making any breakthrough, everyone has understand that already. Now, these kind of "feuds" within the PSD are the norm, as in the last few decades the practice is that the incumbent leader "throws into the bin" basically everyone who is or was against him/her and puts his/her supporters in the lists. This creates a lot of wars and many grudges. I mean, the same people who are attacking Montenegro for "removing" candidates from the lists, are the same people who did the exact same thing during Rio's leadership. You can argue that this is a bad practice, but don't act like you're a prude.

This time, CHEGA has to look credible. If their policies and presentation are a joke, they need to have at least respectable candidates. They don't have them in their ranks, so they are "fishing" many begrudge PSD members who are seing that their "jobs" in the party are coming to an end. What is weird in this situation is that, so far, it's people who were close to Rui Rio, which was accused over and over again of being too leftwing, that are joining CHEGA, not people from the rightwing ranks of the PSD.

[Mike88]

Party lists: IL and PAN final lists are unveiled. List head candidates by district:

IL - Liberal Initiative:

Azores: Judite Barros da Costa
Aveiro: Mário Amorim Lopes, Porto city assembly member;
Beja: Ana Paula Pereira
Braga: Rui Rocha, IL leader and incumbent MP;
Bragança: Teresa Aguiar;
Castelo Branco: Manuel Lemos
Coimbra: Pedro Brinca
Évora: Viviana Moita
Faro: Pedro Bettencourt
Guarda: Carlos Bernardo
Leiria: Miguel Silvestre
Lisbon: Bernardo Blanco, incumbent MP;
Madeira: Gonçalo Maia Camelo
Portalegre: João Leal da Costa
Porto: Carlos Guimarães Pinto, incumbent MP;
Santarém: João Seilá, musician;
Setúbal: Joana Cordeiro, incumbent MP;
Viana do Castelo: Marta Von Fridden
Vila Real: José Ventura
Viseu: Hélio Marta
Europe: João Cotrim de Figueiredo, former IL leader and incumbent MP;
Outside Europe: Teresa Vaz Antunes

7 female list heads (32%) vs 15 male list heads (68%)

PAN - People-Animals-Nature:

Azores: Dinarte Pimentel
Aveiro: Ana Gonçalves
Beja: Luís Coentro
Braga: Rafael Pinto
Bragança: Octávio Pires
Castelo Branco: Ricardo Mota Nunes
Coimbra: João Costa
Évora: Sérgio Neves
Faro: Saúl Rosa
Guarda: João Almeida
Leiria: Rodrigo Andrade
Lisbon: Inês Sousa Real, PAN leader;
Madeira: Marco Gonçalves
Portalegre: Telma Espírito Santo
Porto: Anabela Castro
Santarém: Vera Matos
Setúbal: Alexandra Moreira
Viana do Castelo: Isabel Rhodes
Vila Real: Rui Oliveira
Viseu: Carolina Pia
Europe: Paulo Vieira de Castro
Outside Europe: Nelson Abreu

8 female list heads (36%) vs 14 male list heads (64%)

[Mike88]

Intercampus poll for CMTV and CM/Negócios newspapers:

Vote share %: (after 14.5% of undecideds are excluded)

30.9% PS (+1.6)
24.3% PSD/CDS/PPM (-3.5)
19.4% CHEGA (+6.0)
  8.7% BE (-1.4)
  6.3% IL (-1.3)
  4.6% CDU (+1.9)
  2.6% PAN (-0.9)
  1.5% Livre (-1.8 )
  1.7% Others/Invalid (-0.6)

Poll conducted between 16 and 20 January 2024 Polled 637 voters. MoE of 3.90%.

[Jumped off the American Sinking Ship]

could it be possible CHEGA overtakes AD at this point?

[crals]

Scary times. It will be a phyrric victory for whoever manages to form a government, whether it's a PS government with a right-wing majority or an AD government dependent on Chega.

[Mike88]

could it be possible CHEGA overtakes AD at this point?

Well, on paper anything is possible. With the MoE of the poll, CHEGA could even be just two points behind the PS, but in reality I think it's difficult for CHEGA to surpass AD. First, turnout: No one knows how many people will show up to vote, as the candidates are quite unpopular, there could be less motivation to vote. Plus, a low turnout rate would benefit PS and AD, as older voters, ~40% of the electorate, cast ballots no matter what and these tend to vote more in the PS and PSD. Younger voters, where CHEGA is growing massively, have a tendency of voting in low numbers. Second, polls: Polling in Portugal nowadays should be taken with a massive grain of salt. If party leaders are dependent on the outcome, the credilibity of polls is also on the line. Adding to this, the Intercampus poll has 32% of voters who could still change their mind on whom to vote for. And, third, the campaign: The debates, the parties campaigns could have a very big impact and could sway voters to vote tactically, or not, let's not forget what happened in 2022.

And, let's not forget the Azores election outcome. Although it will be about local factors, it could stil have an impact in the national campaign.

Scary times. It will be a phyrric victory for whoever manages to form a government, whether it's a PS government with a right-wing majority or an AD government dependent on Chega.

A PS government with a right.wing majority is quite difficult to happen. Not sure if PNS would even accept that, now an AD government "hostage" of Ventura is a possibility. Although here, Ventura's future would also be on the line as if he continues his "WTF" policy strategy adding to this instability, he could be electorally punished in the future.

[Mike88]

PS approves their final list of candidates.

PS - Socialist Party:

Azores: Francisco César, incumbent MP;
Aveiro: Pedro Nuno Santos, PS leader and incumbent MP;
Beja: Nélson Brito, former MP;
Braga: José Luís Carneiro, Internal Affairs minister;
Bragança: Isabel Ferreira, secretary of state for regional development;
Castelo Branco: Nuno Fazenda, secretary of state for tourism;
Coimbra: Ana Abrunhosa, Territorial Cohesion minister;
Évora: Luís Dias
Faro: Jamila Madeira, incumbent MP;
Guarda: Ana Godinho, Labour and Social Security minister;
Leiria: Eurico Brilhante Dias, PS caucus leader;
Lisbon: Mariana Vieira da Silva, Presidency minister;
Madeira: Paulo Cafôfo, incumbent PS-Madeira leader;
Portalegre: Ricardo Pinheiro, incumbent MP;
Porto: Francisco Assis
Santarém: Alexandra Leitão, incumbent MP;
Setúbal: Ana Catarina Mendes, Parliamentary Affairs minister;
Viana do Castelo: Marina Gonçalves, Housing minister;
Vila Real: Fátima Correia Pinto, incumbent MP;
Viseu: Elza País, PS Women's wing leader;
Europe: Paulo Pisco, incumbent MP;
Outside Europe: Augusto Santos Silva, Speaker of Parliament;

10 female list heads (45%) vs 12 male list heads (55%)

Also, Finance minister Fernando Medina is number 3 in the Lisbon list. The list making process was a bit tense, with José Luís Carneiro upset that many of his supporters were being put aside and Carneiro himself waited until the last minute to accept the position of head list for Braga. In Vila Real, PNS' pick, Álvaro Beleza, a high profile member of the party, "resigned" from the list after the local party rejected his name and accused of him of being a "parachute candidate".

[Mike88]

Police raids in Madeira's government: Investigation surrounding corruption in the Madeira government.

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1750113115046564107

Corruption in Madeira. Albuquerque and mayor of Funchal main raids of searches

The police and the public prosecutor are conducting a series of raids, this morning, in Madeira regarding a corruption investigation in which Madeira's President, Miguel Albuquerque, and the mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, both from the PSD, seem to be suspects. Albuquerque's house was also raided by the police but so far there is no accusation against any suspect. In March 2021, Albuquerque had already been raided by the police and prosecutors regarding the same case.

Diário de Notícias da Madeira reports that the Prosecutor rented a fleet of 40 cars from a local dealer to make the raids, and that the media was informed yesterday that the raids would happen this morning. LOL

More updates when available.

[Mike88]

More updates when available.

A lot of confusing reports in the last few hours. What we now know:

- The police and the prosecutor conducted a series of raids regarding corruption accusation and crimes of malfeasance, influence peddling, economic participation in business, undue receipt of advantage and abuse of power, against the mayor of Funchal, the President of Madeira and several businesspeople;

- The police said they've arrested 3 suspects but are not revealing their identities. The media says that one of the arrested is the mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado (PSD);

- Miguel Albuquerque, Madeira's President, is due to give a live statement during the afternoon, while many political parties, left to right, are now asking for his resignation. PAN, who supports the regional government in Parliament, has announced that they still support the government and will wait for the results of the investigation;

[Mike88]

- Miguel Albuquerque, Madeira's President, is due to give a live statement during the afternoon, while many political parties, left to right, are now asking for his resignation.

Albuquerque said he will not resign, saying he's not corrupt and that many info that is being reported isn't true, regarding the acusations towards him.

Many pundits are also "trashing" the leaking of info of the raids to several media outlets during yesterday. No one knows who leaked it.

[Mike88]

- Miguel Albuquerque, Madeira's President, is due to give a live statement during the afternoon, while many political parties, left to right, are now asking for his resignation.

Albuquerque said he will not resign, saying he's not corrupt and that many info that is being reported isn't true, regarding the acusations towards him.

Many pundits are also "trashing" the leaking of info of the raids to several media outlets during yesterday. No one knows who leaked it.

Albuquerque is now officially a formal suspect (arguido in Portuguese), which makes his political situation even more complicated. PSD leader Luís Montenegro said that "no one is above the law", but added that for the moment, Albuquerque's should remain in office. However, these remarks were made prior to the news that he had been named as a formal suspect. We'll see if he isn't "forced" to resign. The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, will be flown to Lisbon tomorrow and presented to a judge next Friday, alongside with the remaining two arrested businessmen.

The cases under investigation surround a series of construction projects in which Albuquerque, Calado and several businessemen, which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo, are suspect of creating a network of payments, bribes and/or schemes to speed up construction and avoid bureaucracy.

With so many judicial cases surrounding national and local political officials, it was also news today IKEA's publicity campaign that uses the ongoing corruption case against Costa, in order to sell forniture:

https://twitter.com/manjos/status/1750083728305471534

Good for storing books. Or 75,800 euros.

The company reacted by saying that their goal is to not be political, but that of "reflecting real life" and of giving a touch of humour in a world "increasingly on its nerves".