Silvério Guerreiro has stepped down from his role at regional water company Águas do Algarve after being told he could not hold the position alongside his political role.
The president of the Loulé municipal assembly told Lusa news agency that he chose to stay in politics and leave the company following a warning from the Inspectorate-General of Finance.
Guerreiro, who had served as an executive board member at Águas do Algarve since October 1, 2024, said he submitted his resignation earlier in the week “with immediate effect”.
He said he was contacted by the watchdog and told he had to pick one of the two roles due to “incompatibility”.
“I became aware, through an email issued by the Inspectorate-General of Finance, of the obligation to choose between the two roles,” he said.
Despite insisting he had followed the rules, Guerreiro said his priority was clear.
“My life has been guided by principles and values in the service of the public interest. I entered politics because I want to contribute my skills to give people a voice and help improve their lives, and I have a commitment to the residents of Loulé. That is my priority now,” he said.
He added that stepping down from the company allows him to honour commitments made to voters in the last local elections.
Guerreiro, a civil engineer trained at the Instituto Superior Técnico, has held several roles in public administration, including project management positions at Loulé municipal council. He has also worked on major public infrastructure projects, including the PJ police’s southern headquarters in Faro.
Although elected by PSD Social Democrats, the local council in Loulé is currently led by the Socialist Party under mayor Telmo Pinto – who won the local election by the thinnest of margins.
