Disputed wager between Coimbra's mayor and PS councillor concludes with resignation

In the lead-up to the upcoming local elections, a heated debate took place within Coimbra City Council. The discussion, which did not contribute "to the dignity of the body" of the municipal executive, according to councilor Francisco Queirós, saw several key issues raised.

Ana Abrunhosa, a candidate of the coalition led by the PS, spoke about mobility problems in the municipality, particularly focusing on parishes without transport. Her concerns were echoed by other councilors, with Rosa Isabel Cruz accusing José Manuel Silva, the mayor and candidate for re-election, of stating that all the parishes of the municipality were served by the Municipal Services of Urban Transport of Coimbra (SMTUC).

José Manuel Silva, however, maintained that all parishes have transport during the debate, although he did not specify who this may refer to. The statement was met with scepticism, with councilor José Dias considering that there were "more pressing issues" to discuss at the meeting.

The controversy deepened when Rosa Isabel Cruz, a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, announced her intention to present her resignation. This decision was prompted by the alleged lack of respect for users and workers due to the statements attributed to José Manuel Silva. Cruz accused him of making statements about the SMTUC that she deemed untrue.

In response, José Manuel Silva insisted that he was "speaking very seriously" during the debate and considered it ethically unacceptable to take statements out of context and alter them. The president of Coimbra City Council also made a bet with Rosa Isabel Cruz over the accuracy of these statements.

Francisco Queirós, another councilor, stressed that "what is more important than the resignation of people is the change of policies". The debate served as a reminder of the ongoing mobility issues in certain areas of the municipality, where public transport is not provided by SMTUC.

Despite the heated exchange, José Dias, a member of the PS party, reminded everyone that "no one is a virgin" in political debates. The aftermath of the debate will likely have implications for the upcoming local elections, with voters considering the candidates' stances on key issues such as mobility.