The second official day of the campaign for the upcoming local elections on the 12th brought key topics into focus for both socialists and social democrats.
PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro started the campaign day early, traveling by train at 5:00 AM from Portela de Sintra to Rossio. “Every day, more than 130,000 people use this rail line, including thousands working in cleaning jobs. The Government is trying to reverse the agenda for dignified work, pushing thousands of workers into informality, stripping them of their protection and dignity,” he stated.
In São Brás de Alportel in the Algarve, PSD Secretary-General Hugo Soares, standing in for party leader Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who is attending the European Council’s informal summit in Copenhagen, criticized PS on immigration issues. “The PS denied this reality and only yesterday voted against the foreigners’ law in parliament. It pains me to hear the PS imply we create difficulties for those who seek to come here, suggesting we disrespect those who want to come, as if we were the bad ones,” he said.
Soares questioned, “Are those considered good who allow numerous immigrants to live crammed in apartments with 10, 15, or 20 people? Is that truly humane hospitality?”
PCP Secretary-General Paulo Raimundo visited Viana do Alentejo, a municipality reclaimed by the CDU from the PS in the last local elections, showcasing their accomplishments while asserting that the coalition does not always lose. Raimundo toured a school renovated by the town hall and critiqued the Government for offloading responsibilities onto municipalities without providing support, referencing the competence transfer process initiated in 2018.
Chega’s parliamentary leader Pedro Pinto joined the party’s candidate for the Lisbon City Council presidency, Bruno Mascarenhas, for campaign activities in the Ajuda parish. When addressing journalists, Pinto dismissed speculation about André Ventura’s absence from the campaign for the second consecutive day, stating: “When the party president decides to join the campaign – and he will – journalists will have the chance to question him then.”
Iniciativa Liberal President Mariana Leitão criticized the underfunding of private schools with association contracts. Later, in Caldas da Rainha in the Leiria district, she argued that Portugal’s housing issues require more private initiative, rental liberalization, and new housing construction.
The spokesperson for Livre, Rui Tavares, and Bloco de Esquerda leader Joana Mortágua conducted joint campaign actions in Seixal and Almada. In Costa da Caparica, Almada, Tavares mentioned that these Livre/BE coalitions arise from “local realities” but also address a “national responsibility,” calling for a “rebalancing” of Portuguese politics.
“We see the country has a right-wing President, a right-wing Prime Minister, right-wing regional governments, mayors of the country’s largest cities who are right-wing. Then, the second-largest party, which sometimes claims to be in opposition, actually governs with Luís Montenegro,” he remarked, referencing Chega.
