What kind of European Capital of Democracy is this?

 On 21 October, SOS Quinta dos Ingleses received a reply to the email sent to Cascais Municipal Council regarding the removal of billboards put up by the association around the Quinta dos Ingleses area.

In this response, the council states three things:

1 – That they were not removed because of the IRONMAN event;

2 – That they were seized by the Municipal Police (Polícia Municipal) as part of an inspection operation; and

3 – That they are currently held by the municipal services within the scope of the ongoing administrative offence proceedings against SOS Quinta dos Ingleses for an alleged infraction (which is not specified), of which the latter will be notified in due course to present a defence, if they so wish.

The removal of these billboards constitutes a blatant violation of the rights to freedom of expression and property. Consequently, SOS Quinta dos Ingleses has already lodged complaints with the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público), the Ombudsman (Provedora de Justiça), and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees of the Assembly of the Republic. Furthermore, it has filed an injunction for the protection of fundamental rights against the Cascais Municipal Council (CMC) in the Sintra Administrative and Tax Court.

The CMC appears to believe it is lawful for a contingent of the Municipal Police to suddenly decide to remove billboards and confiscate them along with their metal structures; it considers it acceptable for an administrative body (such as the Municipal Police) – which is under the direct authority of the Mayor – to remove billboards that do not endanger human life or safety without prior administrative proceedings, notification, or a hearing of the targeted party; it is unaware that an association (which even holds the status of an Environmental NGO) enjoys the same freedom of expression as any individual, and that the actions carried out by the Municipal Police and the CMC are illegal, violating constitutionally guaranteed rights, freedoms, and safeguards (namely, the right to freedom of expression and property), which constitutes a criminal offence, and that the Mayor himself may be held personally liable to pay for the unlawful acts committed.

SOS Quinta dos Ingleses will take legal action to demand the reinstatement of the billboards and compensation for the damages caused.

That the CMC should include an image proclaiming itself the European Capital of Democracy in the very email where it admits to confiscating the billboards only adds to the ridicule and irony of the council's response.