Almost 40 years later, Vitor Melicias will not be in a senior position at Associação Mutualista Montepio Geral (AMMG), which will be voted on on December 17th. He joined Mutualista in 1983, during the stabilization phase after the institution was on the verge of entering a wave of bank nationalization in the post-revolutionary period and continues to this day. But for the first time, he is missing from the lists for either the administration or the supervisory board – names already being evaluated by the Insurance and Pension Fund (ASF) Office of the Supervisory Board.

“I cannot stay in Montepio forever. The fact that I did not apply is simply a desire for renewal, for the spirit of the organization to exist. I can’t stay in the office forever. It doesn’t make any sense. The refusal to submit an application is a positive act of cooperation with the institution, supporting the renewal, eternal life of the institution, ”he says Nasser do SOL.

The Franciscan priest also recalls that he was one of the main factors behind the term limits, and as far as the remuneration he still receives, he says that he only receives attendance vouchers – a few hundred euros – as other functions he currently favors Mutualista does not receive any remuneration. “I haven’t received a reward from Montepio for 18 years. I have a pension and everything I get goes to the Franciscans. “

In interview i, he already mentioned that he received three types of pensions: one from social security, another from Montepio, which he deducted as a member, and another called the statutory Montepio pension, which is for those who have been there for more than five years. “All together should give a maximum of 3,900,400 euros. And from this account automatically, without passing through my hand, 3,000 euros are transferred to the monks. There are 900 people left to manage their lives, to help the poor, ”he said to i.

The guarantee is again given to Sunrise, citing that Franciscans live “with the greatest simplicity, no frills.”

Nevertheless, Melisias does not exclude the possibility of promotion with his name to the General Assembly or the Assembly of Representatives. “There is no list for these positions yet. If they convince me that I have to leave because it will be favorable, I probably won’t be able to say no. ” And he leaves a guarantee: “I really want not to go, but the feeling of solidarity with the institution can” force “me to do it.”

And despite not being listed on any of the lists, he admits that his name inspires confidence. And he says that his absence does not mean that he no longer supports the project. “We need to be given peace of mind. It is an institution with 200 years of history, which has grown, strong, organized, has 600 and a thousand such members. ” However, he admits that in recent years, especially in the wake of the pandemic, the numbers have fluctuated. “Some come in and others leave. This is important and not a cause for concern. “

Countdown

Along with Virgiliu Lima, who represents the succession list and has names like Idalia Serrao, João Carvalho das Neves, Rui Heitor and Fernando Amaro, Alipio Dia and Luis Patrao, there are three more competing lists.

One is the so-called “Staff List” headed by Pedro Alves, who raised the candidacy after João Vicente Ribeiro asked to leave “for personal reasons” drawn up by Maria Eduarda Osorio, Nuno Parames and Pedro Libano Monteiro.

Eugenio Rosa, as well as Ana Drago, Antonio Coutu Lopez, Catarina Homem, Luis Costa and Thiago Mota Saraiva are running for the leader of the Mutualista, while another list supported by Ribeiro Mendes, who ran in the last election against Thomas Correia, is Pedro Corte Real (President), Miguel Coelho, Mario Valadas, Nazare Ribeiro, Nuno Rolo, Marcelo Gama and Ana Nogueira.

Nasser do SOL knows that, using the electoral practice of Thomas Correia, Virgilio Lima has traveled all over the country from end to end, visiting branches of Banco Montepio. This “charming” operation began in July and did not end until August. Branches in Braga, Porto and Aveiro were recently visited. Our newspaper discovered that these visits were made under the pretext that they were the president of Associação Mutualista, and that they had the goal of interviewing employees to find out how the relationship with customers and partners is going.

Despite this round, the Executive Committee sent a note to the workers on the risks of conflicts of interest in connection with the elections: “The electoral process for the Montepio Geral Associação Mutualista is very close, this is an important event in the life of this institution. … Caixa Económica Montepio Geral (“Banco Montepio”) is neutral and absolutely independent in this process, convinced that this is the best way to do our part to protect the interests of MGAM and its members, ”says the document.

And he reminds employees of the rules: “In carrying out their professional activities, they must refrain from taking positions on any candidates that are under scrutiny, regardless of the means used in contact with clients and employees of MGAM; No electoral initiative may be carried out within the MGAM electoral process at the Banco Montepio premises; They must immediately inform the board of directors when they are on the list of candidates; any public interference or communication in relation to the electoral process that is permissible under applicable law can only be carried out in a personal capacity, which must be duly noted and cannot represent or bind Banco Montepio, “adding that” a breach of the above obligations may constitute a disciplinary offense, and the following conduct is therefore prohibited: the use of Banco Montepio funds and facilities, namely email, telephone, Internet access and similar technologies, to exchange or distribute messages in support of a candidate or list; using the funds that Banco Montepio has provided to carry out its functions, to attend campaign promotions, to collect votes or to promote a list or candidate (eg cars and mobile phones). “

The Banco Montepio Executive Committee has also begun a program to decentralize its meetings, starting with Guimaraes, which it attended last Wednesday. As a reminder, the term of office of the current management of Banco Montepio expires on December 31, which means that the selection of a new management team for the bank will be one of the first tasks of the new administration of Associação Mutualista.

2020 accounts approved

Also this Thursday, the consolidated financial results of the Montepio Geral Group for 2020 were approved by 97.28% of votes at the next general meeting. “In a year marked by the strong negative impact that the pandemic has had on the entire national, European and global financial sector, the financial sector of the Montepio Group was no exception, registering a series of extraordinary events that negatively impacted Banco Montepio Geral’s bottom line (- 86 million). Without this completely exceptional reality, the consolidated financial statements would have amounted to 65 million, ”he said in a statement.

According to Virgiliu Lima, the accounts were approved “after the partners were fully informed of the very positive results already registered in 2021, with an increase in the number of employees, financial margins, results and performance indicators,” adding that “the non-financial sector is experiencing a positive upward cycle and the financial industry provides indicators that confirm a clear recovery. ” And he left a guarantee: “No one is proud of the negative results, but the road of recovery that the Montepio Group is already on to this date, and the performance of all our employees in 2020 and 2021 as part of the restructuring fill us. proudly. at the group level, in terms of simplifying the number of special purpose vehicles, adjusting the number of branches and work teams, always on a voluntary basis. At the same time, we look to the present and the future with determination, calmness and confidence. “

Figures that don’t convince opponents. The executive group states that the accounts “reveal a failure to value the Institution”, believing that “the course of ongoing asset devaluations can be reversed.” The list, led by Eugenio Rosa, also criticizes the losses, believing that “it is time to try to apply the good reports and best practices that members deserve and have been waiting for.”