The mayor of Coimbra publicly scolded the Minister of Agriculture, in front of television cameras.
“Are you coming to hold a press conference or are you coming to listen to the mayors? If you’re coming to hold a press conference, let’s leave,” said socialist Ana Abrunhosa.
The tense moment occurred upon José Manuel Fernandes’ arrival at the meeting, when the government official was preparing to respond to journalists before speaking to the mayors of Coimbra.
“When you arrive in Coimbra, there is an institutional duty to speak to the mayors”, warned the former minister of Territorial Cohesion, while José Manuel Fernandes tried to defend himself: “I’m answering the questions.”
“But I think he should talk to us first”, insisted the mayor, accusing the minister of not having gone to the field until now and of not having listened to local officials.
José Manuel Fernandes sought to devalue. “I spoke to several [autarcas]”, he said, to which Abrunhosa replied: “Not with those from Coimbra”.
“You said, I haven’t spoken to the mayors yet… in Coimbra, don’t do this again, I ask you please. I was a minister, I was incapable of doing it… couldn’t I wait five minutes?”, added the mayor.
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