Mariana Mortágua Defends Bloco de Esquerda Against False Dismissal Claims of New Mothers

Mariana Mortágua, the coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda (BE), strongly refuted claims that the party dismissed employees who had recently become mothers, labeling the allegations as objectively false. During the presentation of the National Table's conclusions, Mortágua emphasized that there were no dismissals and that the Public Prosecutor's Office (PGR) is investigating a compensatory mechanism implemented by the party, rather than any wrongful terminations.

In 2022, after a poor electoral performance which resulted in the loss of 14 deputies and a subsequent cut in public funding, 30 employees left the party. Mortágua clarified that all legal criteria were followed during this process.

The situation involved two employees who were on specific contracts, meaning their employment terms differed from standard contracts, and thus did not qualify for dismissal protections. Mortágua acknowledged that there were erroneous procedures in how the situation was handled, particularly regarding informal contacts with employees that should not have occurred.

Bloco to Review Employee Statute

In light of the ongoing controversy, BE has proposed an update to the employee statute to ensure better governance and protection for workers. Mortágua stated, “It is fair that there is a political reflection on these cases,” indicating that discussions would lead to necessary changes.

Inquiry Commission Rejected

A proposal for an internal inquiry commission was put forth but ultimately rejected. Mortágua clarified that the departure of four members from the Political Commission was not related to this rejection. Instead, she insisted that the issues at hand should be addressed politically rather than through a formal inquiry.

The BE is committed to revisiting its internal regulations to prevent similar situations in the future, ensuring that all parties involved are treated with fairness and respect.