André Henriques resigns from his position as councilor at the Anadia Chamber

Socialist André Henriques confirmed today that he resigned from his position as councilor at the Anadia City Council, to which he was elected in September 2021 by the Socialist Party, citing “strictly political” reasons.

“Yesterday [Monday] I handed in my resignation from my position as councillor [on a non-permanent basis] at the Anadia Council. I did so for strictly political reasons,” he said.

Speaking to Lusa, André Henriques explained that the resignation comes after the socialist council of Anadia (Aveiro district) put forward the name of Ana Matias as the head of the list for this year's local elections.

According to the only socialist councilor of the Anadia Chamber - led by Teresa Cardoso (Movimento Independente Anadia Primeiro (MIAP) -, in August last year he was approached by the president of the PS council, Joaquim Ramos Pereira, to find out if he was available to head the list for the local elections.

“At the time I told him that I would not shirk responsibility, but that it was not two people who were going to decide that. It had to be the activists,” he added.

André Henriques recalled that in September last year elections were held for the Aveiro District Federation, and he supported the candidate who ended up losing.

“From then on, everything changed: the attitude changed, the circumstances changed and they tried to find another candidate in a way that, for me, is not right, nor for the majority of activists. They did not want to hold the plenary session and the name was put forward on the third attempt”, he indicated.

According to André Henriques, “the name was rejected in a meeting, later a new meeting took place with other members of the Political Commission and a series of resignations in the secretariat followed”.

“People who were not part of the structure were involved and last Thursday, with a majority, they approved the name of the candidate, who was my number three on the list,” he pointed out.

Contacted by Lusa, the president of the socialist council of Anadia, stressed that the choice of Ana Matias to head the list for this year's local elections was made by the PS bodies, “in a widely participated process, the result of successive meetings over the course of months”.

“It was a highly scrutinized and participatory process, where we tried, with complete freedom, to put all possibilities on the table. The various party bodies were able to evaluate and decide on the possibility that would be best at this time,” he said.

Joaquim Ramos Pereira regretted that André Henriques had “reacted a little too hotly”, making “accusations that make no sense”, in a process in which a name was chosen “by majority”.

“In a democracy these things sometimes happen and we have to learn to live with the opinions of others and with the decisions that are made by the majority. That’s how things work,” he added, also refuting that André Henriques had ever been invited to head the PS list last August.

The Anadia Chamber executive is made up of four elected members from MIAP, two from PSD and one from PS.

In the race for president, Ana Matias will face vice-president Jorge Sampaio, chosen by the PSD and who has the support of the CDS-PP.

The local elections are expected to take place between September and October.

Socialist André Henriques confirmed today that he resigned from his position as councilor at the Anadia City Council, to which he was elected in September 2021 by the Socialist Party, citing “strictly political” reasons.

“Yesterday [Monday] I handed in my resignation from my position as councillor [on a non-permanent basis] at the Anadia Council. I did so for strictly political reasons,” he said.

Speaking to Lusa, André Henriques explained that the resignation comes after the socialist council of Anadia (Aveiro district) put forward the name of Ana Matias as the head of the list for this year's local elections.

According to the only socialist councilor of the Anadia Chamber - led by Teresa Cardoso (Movimento Independente Anadia Primeiro (MIAP) -, in August last year he was approached by the president of the PS council, Joaquim Ramos Pereira, to find out if he was available to head the list for the local elections.

“At the time I told him that I would not shirk responsibility, but that it was not two people who were going to decide that. It had to be the activists,” he added.

André Henriques recalled that in September last year elections were held for the Aveiro District Federation, and he supported the candidate who ended up losing.

“From then on, everything changed: the attitude changed, the circumstances changed and they tried to find another candidate in a way that, for me, is not right, nor for the majority of activists. They did not want to hold the plenary session and the name was put forward on the third attempt”, he indicated.

According to André Henriques, “the name was rejected in a meeting, later a new meeting took place with other members of the Political Commission and a series of resignations in the secretariat followed”.

“People who were not part of the structure were involved and last Thursday, with a majority, they approved the name of the candidate, who was my number three on the list,” he pointed out.

Contacted by Lusa, the president of the socialist council of Anadia, stressed that the choice of Ana Matias to head the list for this year's local elections was made by the PS bodies, “in a widely participated process, the result of successive meetings over the course of months”.

“It was a highly scrutinized and participatory process, where we tried, with complete freedom, to put all possibilities on the table. The various party bodies were able to evaluate and decide on the possibility that would be best at this time,” he said.

Joaquim Ramos Pereira regretted that André Henriques had “reacted a little too hotly”, making “accusations that make no sense”, in a process in which a name was chosen “by majority”.

“In a democracy these things sometimes happen and we have to learn to live with the opinions of others and with the decisions that are made by the majority. That’s how things work,” he added, also refuting that André Henriques had ever been invited to head the PS list last August.

The Anadia Chamber executive is made up of four elected members from MIAP, two from PSD and one from PS.

In the race for president, Ana Matias will face vice-president Jorge Sampaio, chosen by the PSD and who has the support of the CDS-PP.

The local elections are expected to take place between September and October.

Socialist André Henriques confirmed today that he resigned from his position as councilor at the Anadia City Council, to which he was elected in September 2021 by the Socialist Party, citing “strictly political” reasons.

“Yesterday [Monday] I handed in my resignation from my position as councillor [on a non-permanent basis] at the Anadia Council. I did so for strictly political reasons,” he said.

Speaking to Lusa, André Henriques explained that the resignation comes after the socialist council of Anadia (Aveiro district) put forward the name of Ana Matias as the head of the list for this year's local elections.

According to the only socialist councilor of the Anadia Chamber - led by Teresa Cardoso (Movimento Independente Anadia Primeiro (MIAP) -, in August last year he was approached by the president of the PS council, Joaquim Ramos Pereira, to find out if he was available to head the list for the local elections.

“At the time I told him that I would not shirk responsibility, but that it was not two people who were going to decide that. It had to be the activists,” he added.

André Henriques recalled that in September last year elections were held for the Aveiro District Federation, and he supported the candidate who ended up losing.

“From then on, everything changed: the attitude changed, the circumstances changed and they tried to find another candidate in a way that, for me, is not right, nor for the majority of activists. They did not want to hold the plenary session and the name was put forward on the third attempt”, he indicated.

According to André Henriques, “the name was rejected in a meeting, later a new meeting took place with other members of the Political Commission and a series of resignations in the secretariat followed”.

“People who were not part of the structure were involved and last Thursday, with a majority, they approved the name of the candidate, who was my number three on the list,” he pointed out.

Contacted by Lusa, the president of the socialist council of Anadia, stressed that the choice of Ana Matias to head the list for this year's local elections was made by the PS bodies, “in a widely participated process, the result of successive meetings over the course of months”.

“It was a highly scrutinized and participatory process, where we tried, with complete freedom, to put all possibilities on the table. The various party bodies were able to evaluate and decide on the possibility that would be best at this time,” he said.

Joaquim Ramos Pereira regretted that André Henriques had “reacted a little too hotly”, making “accusations that make no sense”, in a process in which a name was chosen “by majority”.

“In a democracy these things sometimes happen and we have to learn to live with the opinions of others and with the decisions that are made by the majority. That’s how things work,” he added, also refuting that André Henriques had ever been invited to head the PS list last August.

The Anadia Chamber executive is made up of four elected members from MIAP, two from PSD and one from PS.

In the race for president, Ana Matias will face vice-president Jorge Sampaio, chosen by the PSD and who has the support of the CDS-PP.

The local elections are expected to take place between September and October.