Portugal’s Justice Ministry is going through mayoral incomes with a fine-toothcomb. It is checking to see whether local politicians truly declare what they earn.
According to Correio da Manhã newspaper, the Public Prosecutor is currently investigating 344 separate cases, in which “dozens of mayors” are being thoroughly checked.
Those under the spotlight are all the mayors who either ceased or started public office in 2013.
In response to questions by Correio da Manhã – a newspaper that is always on the trail of corruption – the Attorney General’s office said that it had already analysed “hundreds of declarations” in 2013, and was now embarking on a study of earnings prior to 2013, to check that they too were in line with politicians’ declarations.
The “increase of controls” by the Justice Ministry over the last three years has seen the loss of 12 mandates, added the Attorney General’s office, with five legal cases against politicians currently ongoing.
