Prosecutors ask to lift immunity of JPP deputy Filipe Sousa over car rental
Prosecutors want parliament to lift the immunity of Filipe Sousa, who is suspected of receiving an undue benefit through a 2025 car rental while he was mayor of Santa Cruz. He disputes the suspicion.
The allegation
The Public Prosecutor's Office has named Filipe Sousa, a deputy for the Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) party, as a suspect in a case of receiving or offering undue advantage. The offence carries a prison term of one to five years, so prosecutors say parliament must lift his immunity because the penalty exceeds three years. The case concerns Sousa's time as mayor of Santa Cruz in the 2021-2025 term. Sousa contests the suspicion.
The rental contract
According to prosecutors, Sousa signed a 28-day vehicle rental with Cassiano's Rent Car, Lda on 10 February 2025 at a total price of 1,618.96 euros. He returned the car on 10 March 2025. Prosecutors say the company's manager decided not to charge the rent solely because Sousa was mayor of Santa Cruz and because of that role. They add that Sousa accepted not paying while knowing it was an undue financial benefit, which they describe as a crime committed with direct intent (dolo direto).
- Sousa signs a 28-day rental contract with Cassiano's Rent Car, Lda
- Sousa returns the rented vehicle
- Sousa is heard by the parliamentary Transparency Committee
- Sousa submits his response with four documents
- Lusa reports access to the prosecutors' request to lift immunity
Parliamentary review and defence
The request is under review by the Transparency Committee of parliament, where the rapporteur is Rui Rocha, a former leader of the Liberal Initiative. Sousa was heard by the committee on 8 September 2026 and asked the court for additional information on the case. Prosecutors replied that the original request already contained all the necessary elements. On 22 September 2026 Sousa submitted his response with four documents, arguing that his mandate as mayor was suspended from 7 February to 23 March 2025 because he was a candidate in elections.
