During a campaign dinner for the socialist candidacy in the Loures municipality, led by the current Mayor Ricardo Leão, José Luís Carneiro stressed that the Socialist Party provides guarantees of “humanism, understanding, tolerance, and an open society,” highlighting the party’s specific commitments to the “well-being of all.”
With Ricardo Leão’s current term marked by the demolition of precarious structures in the Talude Militar neighborhood, Carneiro highlighted the commitment to ensuring “decent housing for the most vulnerable families,” as well as for the middle class and younger generations.
“When this municipality is investing in nearly 300 new homes for over 1,200 people, it reaffirms our commitment to a fundamental constitutional value, the right to housing for everyone,” he added.
The socialist leader also emphasized the municipality’s commitment to public education, noting the “investment in new schools” and “creating conditions for all young people to find a true space for equality, citizenship, and social progress at school.”
In health, Carneiro praised Ricardo Leão’s commitment, stating that the mayor is stepping in where the Government falls short to “ensure better health for his local community,” after accusing the government of “creating an illusion” about solving the issues.
For the secretary-general, this candidacy represents a “commitment to development” based on objectives to “enhance and qualify the lives of people, the territory, and cultural infrastructures and equipment.”
“These are the three main priorities of local policies, echoed by the Socialist Party’s local leaders, which is why Ricardo Leão will strengthen his majority in the upcoming elections on October 12,” he concluded.
Politically, since the first municipal elections in 1976, Loures has witnessed an alternation between the PS and the CDU (PCP/PEV) in the presidency of the council.
Following two decades of communist governance (1979-2001), led by figures like Severiano Falcão (1979-1990), Demétrio Alves (1990-1999), and Adão Barata (1999-2001), the council’s leadership passed to the PS, under Carlos Teixeira’s helm (2001-2013).
In the aftermath of the 2013 municipal elections, after the enactment of mandate limitations, former communist deputy Bernardino Soares regained the council, succeeding a 12-year socialist presidency.
In the 2021 municipal elections, after eight years of leadership and with another possible term, Bernardino Soares lost to socialist Ricardo Leão, who was elected without an absolute majority.
In addition to Ricardo Leão, candidates for the Loures council include Luís Martins (IL), Gonçalo Caroço (CDU), Nélson Batista (PSD), Bruno Nunes (Chega), Luís de Sousa (Free/BE/PAN Coalition), Isabel Elias (MPT), and João Gomes (ADN).
The current executive in Loures comprises four PS members, including the president, four from CDU, two from PSD, and one from Chega.
The municipal elections are set for October 12.
