Gaia Mayor's Mandate Loss Confirmed by Constitutional Court - A Political Upheaval

The Constitutional Court (TC) has definitively confirmed the loss of mandate of Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, the mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia, due to the improper use of a municipal vehicle from this Porto district city. This decision, accessed by Lusa today, follows the socialist mayor's appeal to the TC conference after the court upheld, in a summary decision, the Porto Court of Appeal's ruling that maintained, in October 2024, the conviction for loss of mandate decided by the Vila Nova de Gaia Court (first instance court) in November 2023.

In the conference of the 1st Section, the TC decided to 'reject the complaints filed by the complainants', Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues and his wife, also convicted in this process, and, 'as a consequence, confirm the summary decision' issued by the TC in May of this year.

The ruling reiterates 'the judgment of non-unconstitutionality of the norm emerging from article 29, paragraph f), of Law No. 34/87, of July 16', under which the definitive conviction for a crime of responsibility committed in the exercise of their functions by a member of the representative body of a local authority implies the loss of the respective mandate; and, as a consequence, denies the appeal.

This TC decision, which is not subject to appeal, comes on the day Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues leaves the position of mayor of Vila Nova de Gaia, after being first elected in the 2013 local elections. Leadership of the municipality will pass to the current vice-mayor, Marina Mendes, starting Tuesday.

Contacted by Lusa, the municipality indicated that Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues will only comment on the final decision after it becomes final, which happens 10 days after the date of notification of the ruling. Later, the mayor asked Lusa to 'clarify that he has 10 days to file a nullity plea', assuming that he will do so, 'which has a suspensive effect' on the decision of the Constitutional conference.