“I was the first responsible for the choices. Therefore, I am the first and only responsible for this electoral result. I believe this result is not an end. It is the beginning of a cycle that instead of starting in power, will start in opposition and that is the main message I would like to convey to you. Today we do not end a cycle, we do not put a full stop. Today we begin a cycle, which due to the result, does not start in power, in governance, it starts in opposition,” declared João Paulo Correia.
The former Secretary of State for Sport and elected in the local elections for the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, in the Porto district, assured that he will assume the role of councilman, immediately receiving strong applause from several dozen socialist militants and sympathizers present at the candidate’s campaign headquarters.
“I will assume my role as councilman. It could not be otherwise. The decision was made as soon as I decided to be a candidate for the Gaia City Council and I will continue this journey and stand fully in this commitment,” he stated.
The candidate considered that the defeat was by “a narrow margin,” noting that the PS lost by “7,300 votes,” standing against the “largest party coalition ever to contest in Gaia (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), led by Luís Filipe Menezes.
“Our defeat is much smaller than some exit poll projections suggested when opening the news about the results on the night [of Sunday]. We were behind the winning candidate by about 7,300 votes, when more than 160,000 Gaia residents voted tonight [Sunday] (…) We won nine out of the 24 parish councils,” he said.
According to João Paulo Correia, this result is a “legacy” that will not be put away.
“Today’s [Sunday] results are achievements and that legacy will not be wasted. The tens of thousands of Gaia residents who voted for us for the City Council, for the Municipal Assembly, and for the Parish Councils need to know—and do know—that their vote of confidence does not end today (…). Today we start a new cycle, only we start in opposition. We do not start in municipal governance. I believe that four years from now we will be celebrating the much-desired local election victory for the good of Gaia and its residents,” he affirmed.
João Paulo Correia arrived at the campaign headquarters at 23:37 on Sunday, under strong applause from socialist militants and sympathizers who welcomed him with a standing ovation, beginning his statement with a greeting to “all the Gaia residents for their turnout at the polls.”
He described his campaign as “very courageous, transparent, and honest,” and promised that the opposition will be conducted in the same manner, not being “destructive,” but rather “responsible.”
“In light of this vote of confidence, we have to continue being mature local officials. We accept the political results but you can count on a responsible opposition; we will never be a destructive opposition. We have to be ambitious but also responsible and mature,” he emphasized.
The socialist expressed having “the feeling of a task accomplished” and feeling “very proud of the work” of all his supporters.
“Today we start a local governance cycle for the next four years,” he said.
The race for the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council included the candidacies of André Araújo (CDU—coalition PCP/PEV), João Paulo Correia (PS), Luís Filipe Menezes (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Daniel Gaio (Volt), João Martins (BE/Livre), Rui Sequeira (ADN), António Barbosa (Chega), and Catarina Costa (Partido Liberal Social).
The municipal executive is composed of 11 elected officials, with the PS holding nine seats and the PSD two.
