The municipal council of Albufeira has criticised the way authorities carried out searches on Wednesday at its offices, arguing the operation was unnecessary.
In a statement, the council said the documents requested by investigators are public and “could have been obtained through a simple request,” questioning the need for police action. It added that the municipality has cooperated “from the first moment.”
The case centres on comments made by Albufeira mayor Rui Cristina, elected by far-right party Chega, during a municipal assembly meeting in November, when he said he would not “spend money on the gypsy ethnicity” while other residents were in need of housing. He acknowledged at the time that the remarks could be seen as controversial.
“You can call me a xenophobe; you can call me whatever you want. But we come first, those of us who pay taxes and have needs, and then come these communities. That is how it is going to be while I’m here for these four years,” the mayor said at the time.
However, the council insists the mayor does not discriminate against any group, stating he acts “for all, in a dignified and equal manner, without discriminating against (positively or negatively) any group or ethnicity,” and stressing that such behaviour would be illegal.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that searches were carried out as part of an investigation, which remains under judicial secrecy. No further details have been made public. The inquiry is being led by the Regional Department of Investigation and Penal Action in Évora.
The investigation follows a complaint by Helena Palhota Simões, who asked prosecutors to examine the mayor’s statements and submitted official records and video of the meeting.
The council said the case also includes a counter-complaint by Rui Cristina against the same deputy, alleging defamation and false reporting.
André Ventura, leader of Chega, has already condemned the investigation, accusing authorities of “intimidation” and claiming that police powers were being used against an elected official.
