External inquiry in Lisbon city council’s ‘Russiagate’ unlikely to report till after municipal elections

An external inquiry into Russiagate – the ‘scandal’ that saw the city council furnish the Russian embassy with personal details of activists that have sought political asylum in Portugal – is unlikely to report until after the municipal elections in September. The inference, of course, is that this can only ‘favour’ PS mayor Fernando Medina who has refused to resign over the affair, and will be running for a second term in office. Mr Medina told TVI last night: “You cannot expect me to be quick and do an external audit at the same time…” His idea of ‘being quick’ has been to announce the sacking of a long-term city council employee, and a series of new policy measures (click here).