From Campo Pequeno, candidate Carlos Moedas, seeking re-election as the president of the Lisbon City Council, was joined by IL leader Mariana Leitão, who aimed to bring him “strength” to win the municipal elections on October 12, through a person-to-person, vote-to-vote campaign. Together, they led supporters of the “Por ti, Lisboa” candidacy along Avenida da República to Saldanha.
In the 2021 municipal elections, Carlos Moedas won without an absolute majority, leading the “Novos Tempos” coalition – PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança, without the support of IL, which ran independently and failed to elect councilors to the municipal executive. This election highlights a contest between a right-wing coalition, notably PSD/CDS-PP/IL, and a left-wing coalition, “Viver Lisboa” – PS/Livre/BE/PAN, excluding CDU (PCP/PEV), making it difficult to predict victories and almost impossible to achieve an absolute majority.
“We only want Moedas as president,” chanted the supporters at the start of the rally, waving flags related to the candidacy.
Most interactions with the public, including workers, were limited to greetings from Carlos Moedas and Mariana Leitão. There were also interactions with people at café and restaurant terraces, whom the PSD candidate apologized to for the “great confusion, but that’s part” of the electoral campaign.
Some rejected “the invasion,” replying “move along,” but others welcomed it “in a democratic spirit” and even revealed they would vote for the “Por ti, Lisboa” candidacy.
“I send many messages and he replies,” praised a resident, to whom the social-democrat assured he would “respond to everything.”
The route was also marked by complaints from residents, including criticisms about scooters and lack of cleanliness, particularly near construction work on Avenida 5 de Outubro, where a local mentioned rats and shared that her dog died after ingesting rat poison.
Upon arrival at Saldanha, Carlos Moedas engaged an elderly couple willing to listen, highlighting the difficulty experienced along the rally, attributed to “everyone being on their phones.” In the end, the couple affirmed, “We are with you.”
In statements to journalists, alongside the IL president, the PSD candidate remarked that people “are happy” with his project for the city started four years ago, acknowledging that “there are complaints about many things” as well.
Despite not explicitly advocating for strategic voting, Carlos Moedas emphasized that Lisboans face a choice between his project, “which has done and will do much more,” and the candidacy of Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), whom he accused of wanting “more taxes” and a “dirtier city.”
“I spent four years in the minority without being able to do everything I wanted and could,” he stated, explaining the inability to solve problems, including urban cleanliness.
While not directly seeking an absolute majority, he urged voter mobilization: “We need votes to achieve governability conditions and, therefore, whoever has one more vote, which is what I ask of Lisboans, is president of the City Council, but obviously, the more votes, the better.”
“Very confident” in his electoral program, featuring 15 measures ranging from housing to security, the PSD candidate emphasized the commitment to “continue lowering taxes” and reducing municipal fees, attributing “this impetus” to IL.
Running for Lisbon City Council in the upcoming municipal elections are 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).
