António Bagão Félix, a key figure in João Noronha Lopes’ campaign for Benfica’s presidency, has asserted that the upcoming second round of voting will see both contenders start from an equal footing, emphasizing a strategic shift towards forward-looking dialogue. The runoff, an unprecedented event in the club’s history, is scheduled for November 8 and anticipates high voter engagement.
Bagão Félix, who is running for president of the Fiscal Council on Noronha Lopes’ ticket, dismissed the first-round results as irrelevant for the decisive vote. “The two candidates start from zero. Rui Costa does not start from 42% [42.13%] and Noronha Lopes from 30 [30.26%]. They start from zero,” Bagão Félix stated in an interview with CMTV.
He also staunchly defended Noronha Lopes against “insulting” comparisons to former disgraced Benfica president João Vale e Azevedo. Bagão Félix argued that Noronha Lopes is committed to serving the club, not self-interest, upholding principles of “truth, transparency, and rigor – not fraud and cheating.” He described Noronha Lopes’ proposed changes as “change with confidence and moderation,” rather than a “revolutionary” break.
Addressing current sporting performance, Bagão Félix noted that incumbent Rui Costa benefits from the popularity of coach José Mourinho. He called Mourinho a “lightning rod” and an “excellent choice” that generates significant expectation, serving as a “heritage asset” for the election. Benfica fans, he added, feel “more represented” by Mourinho’s press conferences.
Bagão Félix urged both campaigns to move past discussing past events for the second round. He called for a focus on future paths and balancing sports, economic, financial, and associative aspects of the club. He suggested that mutual respect between candidates is vital for members to make a conscious, rational choice.
While satisfied with his own first-round vote, which was 7% higher than Noronha Lopes’, Bagão Félix underscored his full belief in Noronha Lopes as a strong candidate. He cited Noronha Lopes’ “Benfica spirit, capability, and honorability,” and his rare quality of being demanding of others only after being demanding of himself.