The Public Prosecutor's Office has closed the case that investigated Paulo Santos, vice-president of the Chamber of FaroBy suspicions of corruption. Free from any suspicion, the mayor says he has the “energy” to continue serving the Algarve capital… until the end of the current term.
In a public statement, sent to newsrooms on the morning of Monday, September 9, Paulo Santos says that celebrated this year the Municipality Day (September 7th) with a “renewed feeling” and “free from the weight of a process that hung over me for five years”.
The process – which began with an operation called “Mercado Livre” – investigated possible crimes of economic participation in business, passive and active corruption, embezzlement, malfeasance and abuse of powers, involving the Chamber of Faro – and its vice-president Paulo Santos – and the municipal company Ambifaro.
In statements to the Sul Informação, the vice-president explained that the MP's decision was already known, but only now did the mayor decide to "make it public", also "driven by City Day".
In the statement, Paulo Santos says that the archiving of the case means that he has renewed his “commitment” to Faro.
“This is a time to take stock, but above all to look to the future. Faro deserves the best of us, and that is why, now with more strength and freedom, I reaffirm my desire to continue serving this land that I love so much and that saw me born 48 years ago", it reads.
With local elections just around the corner – already in 2025 – the statement – and the timing – used by Paulo Santos could mean something more, but, when questioned by our newspaper, the vice-president of the City Council of Faro denies any ulterior motives.
“What I am saying is that I have the energy to complete my term of office until the end. It has nothing to do with positions for the local elections. That was done a long time ago and we are not in that moment. The intention of the statement was nothing more than to express my energy to work until the end of my term of office,” he assured.
In this statement, Paulo Santos also thanks the “unconditional support of the municipality’s employees, my colleagues in the local executive and the president Rogério Bacalhau”.
«I continued to work with the same determination for the development of Faro. And to the people of Faro, who have supported me throughout this journey, my most sincere gratitude. Your encouragement and trust were the strength that drove me to continue”, he adds.
“It wasn’t easy. There were many sleepless nights and moments when it was hard to believe what was happening. In fact, I (and some people close to me) were the only ones who knew that nothing had happened to justify the existence of a lawsuit. Several times I chose to remain discreet, avoiding public exposure. But, because of my love for the work I do and the certainty of my integrity, I overcame each challenge, always believing that the truth would come to light and that the day would come when I could finally share this message with you,” it reads.
Paulo Santos concludes by saying that he awaited with “serenity, and with confidence in justice, this decision, which I always believed to be the only possible outcome and which reaffirms my innocence.”
“However, the damage caused to my personal and professional life, and to those closest to me, cannot be erased,” he concludes.
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