At the end of Alexandra Leitão’s speech, where she acknowledged a loss in the municipal elections on Sunday, Rui Tavares indicated a likely continuation of significant alignment and coordination among PS, Livre, BE, and PAN in the capital’s city council, noting this was already the case over the past four years.
Within the municipal executive, each councilor elected by the coalition will act under their party’s banner, gathering before each council meeting to probably share their voting intentions.
Rui Tavares welcomed the news that Alexandra Leitão will take on the role of councilor in the opposition, adding this reinforces the credibility and leadership she brings, which also benefits other political forces.
“We will cooperate on many matters, with each party maintaining its unique identity and ideals,” he emphasized.
This does not imply unanimous voting, as he reminded that “over the past four years, Livre often voted differently from the Socialist Party.”
He committed to doing so “always with loyalty and a spirit of cooperation.”
Reflecting on the “Viver Lisboa” coalition, Livre’s spokesperson remarked that “convergences always enrich” and pointed out that entrants were welcome at each “responsibility stop.”
Dismissing criticisms directed at the CDU (PCP/PEV coalition), which will elect one or two councilors, Rui Tavares mentioned that there will be ample time for such analyses and remarked that the municipal electoral law is not “fully understood,” suggesting that there is significant educational work needed.
Addressed by journalists outside the Lisbon Forum, BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua declined to comment, preferring to wait for a balance to be struck “tomorrow or the day after, when the Bloco organs convene.”
The PAN spokesperson, Inês Sousa Real, was not present at the Lisbon Forum.
