The statements were made on the day the UNTA-CS National Executive Committee Secretariat held the 1st Extraordinary Conference of the USL, which elected Alberto Sebastião as USL Secretary-General, replacing Filomena Soares, who was removed from the position last May following an extraordinary meeting of the UNTA Federal Council.
At this meeting, chaired by the UNTA-CS Secretary of Administration and Finance, the conference also approved the appointment of members of the Executive Secretariat and the Fiscal, Control, and Disciplinary Council of the USL.
The UNTA-CS's deliberations are contested by members of Filomena Soares's former board, who have filed a criminal complaint against José Laurindo.
"These accusations are unfounded. Whoever called the press conference [on Tuesday] has no legitimacy to do so. If it was Mrs. Filomena Soares [suspended USL general secretary], she has been expelled for social misconduct and cannot speak on behalf of UNTA or the USL," José Laurindo said this Wednesday.
Responding to accusations from the so-called USL executive council, which held a press conference on Tuesday, accusing the UNTA-CS general secretary of interfering in the USL's powers, José Laurindo said that the body had no legitimacy to address USL matters.
Regarding the accusations of mismanagement within the Confederation, he stated: "They are the ones who are saying and must prove [the accusations], and if there is a court case, it should be kept confidential, and I should not comment," José Laurindo stated.
On Tuesday, the USL accused the UNTA-CS general secretary of abuse of power, intimidation, violations of the USL leadership's bylaws, and mismanagement.
The situation was reported by the USL provincial council, which promised to convene an extraordinary conference to decide on the suspension of its membership with the UNTA-CS due to the stance of the Confederation's current general secretary, José Joaquim Laurindo.
According to the USL, the UNTA-CS general secretary "arrogates" the right to convene an extraordinary provincial conference, the USL's highest body, to dismiss the current leadership of the capital's unions, in violation of the USL and UNTA-CS bylaws.
Moreira Julante, a member of the USL provincial council, also accused José Joaquim Laurindo of attempting to manipulate the USL members to "consummate a coup d'état," seeking to get rid of the current USL leadership, as he is perceived as "lacking transparency and democracy."
