In a luncheon discussion titled “Lisbon, what has been done and what remains,” hosted by the International Club of Portugal, social democrat Carlos Moedas emphasized the achievements of the past four years in developing a local welfare state, focusing on housing support and a healthcare plan for the elderly.
The mayor highlighted the removal of “over 500 tents from the city,” including those near Igreja dos Anjos, providing solutions for relocation to prevent homelessness. He noted that “many people did not want the situation to be resolved,” highlighting that the city council now operates a team dedicated to assisting the homeless 24 hours a day.
“If a city does not have social peace and a local welfare state to aid people, it may have everything else, but it lacks the essential element of harmony among its inhabitants,” said the candidate of the “For you, Lisbon” coalition, comprising PSD, CDS-PP, and IL, stressing that “reality is far more important than ideology.”
Focusing on people, Moedas introduced the “capacity to dream,” including the Unicorn Factory initiative, and emphasized creating a city “with a soul,” investing in culture with new museums and theaters.
Addressing an audience mainly of businesspeople, which included Joaquim Miranda Sarmento “as a friend, not as finance minister,” Moedas answered questions from members of the International Club of Portugal concerning immigration, urban licensing, and tourist taxes.
In the first two days of the campaign, the “For you, Lisbon” initiative has engaged with the media under controlled conditions, refraining from answering journalists’ questions despite holding street actions to interact with the public.
“It is a true privilege to serve the people of Lisbon,” Moedas reiterated, emphasizing that he is “halfway” through a city project with “a concrete vision.”
Clarifying that he is not running against anyone, Carlos Moedas urged Lisbon residents to actively participate in the municipal elections on October 12, to decide whether they want a “regression” or to advance the project initiated in 2021, to which he is “committed 24 hours a day.”
Addressing persisting issues, the candidate identified waste management as a problem resulting from “political irresponsibility” following the decentralization of responsibilities to parish councils, explaining the lack of solutions during his term as due to governing “in a minority.”
If re-elected, he plans to ensure non-recyclable waste collection six days a week instead of three, and to launch the “WhatsApp of Waste,” a platform providing real-time responses to residents’ requests.
The social democrat also pledged to enhance security with increased surveillance and policing, emphasizing that the Municipal Police should be able to detain suspects and take them to the station, without becoming a criminal police body.
Other measures include intervention in Monsanto Forest Park, Pope Francis Park, and Tapada das Necessidades, constructing housing on “250 hectares left undeveloped for 20 years between Vale de Chelas and Vale de Santo António,” rehabilitating 710 homes in the historic center for young people, halving the 476 municipal fees, and continuing to return 5% of income tax to Lisbon residents.
Candidates running for the Lisbon City Council in the approaching municipal elections include Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), João Ferreira (CDU-PCP/PEV), Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega), Ossanda Líber (Nova Direita), José Almeida (Volt), Adelaide Ferreira (ADN), Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (PPM/PTP), and Luís Mendes (RIR).
