Presidential elections. Masons are divided between candidates

Freemasonry doesn't like anyone to speak on its behalf, other than the Grand Masters or their spokespeople. The same applies to Opus Dei; only the prelate represents the Work. And that's why so many Freemasons were disturbed by last week's Nascer do SOL news, which reported that the Grande Oriente Lusitano (GOL) is supporting António José Seguro, and the Grande Loja Legal de Portugal (GLLP/GLRP) is supporting Henrique Gouveia e Melo.

While it's true that neither obedience publicly endorses a particular candidate, the same isn't true of their brothers, venerable or otherwise. One need only look at the candidacies of Henrique Gouveia e Melo and António José Seguro to understand this. Even before he put his name forward, the admiral already had the support of Paulo Noguês and José Manuel Anes, two prominent members of the GLLP/GLRP, the regular Portuguese Masonic obedience.

While it's true that Paulo Noguês holds no official position in Freemasonry, it's also true that he's one of the most important figures in the military. "He created the magazine Segurança e Defesa and has a publishing house, and it's through him that much of the influence in the areas of Defense and Security flows. Let's say that Paulo Noguês, but even more so Isaltino Morais, strongly 'pull' the Regular brothers to support Gouveia e Melo," a prominent Freemason explained to Nascer do SOL .

On the side of António José Seguro, it is Pedro Farmhouse, former socialist deputy and prominent member of GOL, and Álvaro Beleza who are calling for unity around the former secretary-general of the PS.

"Of course, not all Freemasons on either side will vote for the same candidate, but many should do so, if influences still count for anything, as well as applying them in election campaigns," says another Freemason.

The importance of Seguro's wife

Family relationships also play a role in supporting obedience, as a prominent Freemason explains. António José Seguro is married to Margarida Maldonado Freitas, and the candidate's wife belongs to a family with a storied history in the history of GOL in Portugal. The Maldonado Freitas are a family of pharmacists, which is also Margarida's profession.

According to the same Freemason, "the Maldonado Freitas family was very important in the first Republic." Pharmacies were, in the early 20th century, a prime location for conspiring. The Maldonado Freitas pharmacy, in Caldas da Rainha, was a common meeting place for Freemasons, who at the time held a very significant role in the political developments of the era, as the Republic took its first steps and revolutions and counterrevolutions followed one another.

João Soares, and before him, the father of the founder of the Socialist Party, Mário Soares, were very close to Margarida Maldonado Freitas' ancestors. This may explain the closeness of illustrious members of the Grande Oriente Lusitano, including fellow socialists João Soares and Álvaro Beleza. But it doesn't stop there: "although there are no indications within the organization, these references speak volumes to many other GOL members ."

In an organization where history, tradition, and rituals are of paramount importance, the fact that António José Seguro is married to one of GOL's most prestigious families is not insignificant in the support he manages to garner for his presidential candidacy.

Freemasons deny support

It's already clear that, officially, no one agrees that there are more GOL members supporting Seguro's candidacy than Gouveia e Melo's, and the same is true of the Regular. Pedro Rangel, former Grand Master of the Grande Loja Simbólica de Portugal (GLSP) – which has nothing to do with the other two obediences – to simplify, let's call it a third way within Freemasonry – disagrees with the interpretation that a given obedience supports this or that candidate. "I was at the official presentation of Admiral Gouveia e Melo's candidacy, but other members of the Loja Simbólica were at António José Seguro's. And I believe others support Marques Mendes," he told Nascer do SOL . Therefore, he adds, "it makes no sense for us to be the only ones represented in the three candidacies; the others are too."

GLLP/GLRP spokesperson Tiago Thira Campos made a point of explaining to our newspaper that the idea of this Masonic obedience supporting a candidacy makes no sense, given its statutes: "One of our rules is to be completely nonpartisan. At our meetings, we don't discuss politics, football, or religion," he assures. Admitting that there are many politicians within the Regular Grand Lodge, this representative says they come from various political backgrounds, which makes choosing a candidate impossible.

In the GOL, the rules are similar, but one source explains that "the GOL is more socialist and the GLRP is more PSD." This explains the greater concentration of support from members of the Grande Oriente Lusitano for António José Seguro and, conversely, the greater concentration of members of the Grande Loja Regular for Gouveia e Melo. The same source also admits that there may also be Freemasons supporting other candidates, particularly Marques Mendes, "but the natural distribution is for the GOL to support Seguro and the GLRP to support the admiral." If "there were blind obedience from the Freemasons, Marques Mendes would not have the support of some prominent brothers," explains another source.

The 50 Club

This is the name of the organization that has been organizing meetings with various presidential candidates. Gouveia e Melo and Marques Mendes have already sat at the table with the 50 Club, and António José Seguro has been invited to a similar event.

The invitations were extended as the candidacies for Belém were officially announced. The Club wanted to hear from the candidates firsthand. "To find out what they think, what they stand for, and how they intend to serve as president if elected," they explain.

Despite Nascer do SOL 's attempts to speak to a representative of this group, this was refused because "the club is a private ecumenical organization that does not seek publicity."

The Club of 50 was created in France and follows rules. The idea is to bring together in a single forum several Masonic obediences, which, with the exception of this group, have no contact whatsoever and often even have serious rivalries. 50 is the maximum number of members this club can have, and in its original French form, members must be distributed among at least four Masonic obediences. In Portugal, the Club of 50 represents only the two obediences established in the country: GOL and GLRP. The group's presidency rotates between the two obediences.

As we were told, the group meets monthly and "there's a guest to speak on current topics. The guests are always someone who's interested in hearing about what's happening in the country." Currently, the Group of 50's attention is focused on next year's presidential elections.