Margarida Martins – the social activist turned politician – is suddenly back in the news today, under alleged suspicion of economic crimes and the ‘personal use of public property’ during her eight-year tenure as president of Arroios parish council in Lisbon. The PJ’s unit for the combat of corruption has conducted a search of the parish council, say reports. Ms Martins is best known for being a pioneer in Portugal in the development of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. For 21 years she was president of Associação Abraço (Association Hug), which she co-founded. She lost her mandate in September’s municipal elections to the Novos Tempos coalition whose figurehead Carlos Moedas is now Lisbon’s centre-right mayor.
