Admiral Gouveia e Melo ‘supported by mason under suspicion’
With the national media hype over immigration already under criticism, huge focus too has been put on the ‘masonic angle’ to the potential candidacy to Portugal’s presidency by former Chief of Staff of the Navy Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã today writes that “Mason under suspicion supports admiral”.
The ‘mason’ in question is José Mateus, one of the defendants in Operation Triângulo, focussing on suspicions of corruption involving a former mayor of Vila Real de Santo António, and former Socialist MP, António Gameiro.
Beyond supporting MAAP (the movement of support for the admiral to the presidency), Mateus would appear to have no direct connection to the admiral, who has stressed repeatedly that he is not a mason and has not sought this much-publicised ‘masonic support’. (He hasn’t even declared his intention to run for the presidency.)
If anything, the ‘masonic angle’, appears to be being given oxygen in a bid to detract from the admiral’s acknowledged attributes: various commentators have suggested that among the relatively ‘dry, political candidates’ being touted for the successor to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in January next year, the admiral with his no-nonsense approach to serious matters would win hands down. Perhaps that is what is is worrying the country’s movers and shakers.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
