The final decision has not yet been made, but «it is a possibility that can be verified». Andre Gomes admits that he may be a candidate for the presidency of the Algarve Tourism Region.
The hypothesis has already been criticized by the PSD, in a statement signed by Cristóvão Norte, who recalls that he is the «son of Isilda Gomes, mayor of Portimão, and husband of Ana Varges Gomes, president of the Board of Directors of Centro Hospitalar Universitário» .
Confronted by Sul Information on whether he intended to run for office, the director of the RTA's Center for Promotion, Entertainment and Tourist Information, a position he has held since 2018, replied: "let's see".
According to André Gomes, who has a degree in Law from Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes, in Portimão, there are «agents in the sector who have expressed their opinion that I could be the candidate».
Asked about when he will make a final decision, André Gomes said that, for now, it is still "extemporaneous" to talk about timings.
“The elections are in June and I am focused on my duties in the RTA. I don't see any timing visible, but it is a situation that can be verified. At the moment, I don't have anything signed, »she added.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the PSD/Algarve, which made this possibility public, has already protested.
«We all know that it is the PS that chooses who occupies the presidency of the RTA – because it has the overwhelming majority of mayors – and we are in the absurd imminence of seeing the PS put a person who has no experience, qualification, curriculum, who has nothing to see or offer to the sector, he is only the son of the mayor of Portimão and husband of the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centro Hospitalar do Algarve», says Cristóvão Norte, PSD/Algarve leader, in this statement.
The social democrat, who is himself the son of a politician, in the case of Cristóvão Norte (father), now deceased, a historic PSD militant, deputy to the Constituent Assembly and many years a parliamentarian for the social democrats, even speaks of «nepotism in the its maximum exponent».
“We have to say enough is enough. Institutions are meant to serve the community, they cannot be destroyed by the worst practices that strip them of all credibility and jeopardize the performance of their mission. We hope that there is a minimum of decency and that they go back», considers Cristóvão Norte.
«The PSD, in this and other processes, is part of the solutions and not of the problems, understanding that the PS must choose someone who is recognized by the agents of the sector and, in that case, the PSD will not oppose any objection», he adds.
Regarding these accusations, André Gomes replies that «we are all children or husbands of someone». "This issue of nepotism makes no sense, but people are free to make whatever comments they want," he added.
The hypothetical candidate for the presidency of the RTA also says that, if he advances to a candidacy, “it will never be” for family reasons.
«I worked at the Algarve Tourism Board for the last five years», after having worked at Turismo de Portimão for ten years.
João Fernandes, current president of the RTA, has already announced that he will step down in June, so the war for his succession is open.
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