After months of uncertainty over his future, Aljezur’s fervently anti-oil mayor José Amarelinho has suspended his mandate, promising to return publicly to the matter but giving no indication as to when.
It was a statement released on Tuesday evening and long-expected following continual court defeats over the last five years as he battled to defend himself against accusations that he bent planning laws when working under former mayor Manuel Marreiros (click here).
Reaction in the rural borough that he led into a third mandate has been fatalistic.
“Whoever fights against lobbies and oligarchies ends up losing whether they are on the right or the left”, wrote one resident over social media.
Amarelinho was the ‘face’ of Algarve mayor’s objections to gas and oil prospection.
Activists are still trying every means left available to halt drilling scheduled to start any day now, but the government appears firmly committed to honouring contracts signed by GALP and Italian oil company ENI to drill in three large concession areas stretching from Sines all the way south towards Lagos.
As for Amarelinho, his statement – thanking all municipal workers and the people of his borough – says he reached the decision to step aside due to “personal and family issues as well as circumstances known to the public in general”.
Deputy mayor José Gonçalves will be taking over.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
