“The result in Serpa was historic and reflects the desire for change in the municipality. It is very gratifying to have received a majority and a vote of confidence for the next four years,” stated Francisco Picareta to the media.
The Socialist Party (PS) won the Serpa City Council with an absolute majority in Sunday’s local elections, taking control of a council that has always been led by the Democratic and Unitary Coalition (CDU) or by coalitions headed by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) since 1976, following the first elections after the April 25, 1974, Revolution.
Francisco Picareta remarked on his ambition, dedication, and desire to improve the municipality during his term and revealed that the first measure would be to secure funding for the redevelopment of Serpa’s Secondary School.
“There was a missed opportunity a few years ago that the former council governance chose not to accept, but we want to undertake that work and ensure the funding for its execution. It’s a structuring project for the municipality,” he highlighted.
The elected president also prioritized the reorganization of municipal services, the refurbishment of the health center and school in Vila Nova de São Bento, and the rehabilitation of business parks.
“To say that there is one specific measure would be insufficient; we aim to develop integrated progress and undertake these initial measures with great enthusiasm and ambition,” he noted.
Francisco Picareta also emphasized the “teamwork” that allowed the PS to achieve this electoral result, highlighting the contribution of Ricardo Mestre, former Secretary of State for Health in the most recent PS government, who was elected to the municipal assembly.
The PS won with 41.25% of the votes, securing four mandates in the council, while the CDU (PCP/PEV) received 33.62% and three mandates, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI).
The third most voted was the PSD/CDS-PP with 8.41% of the votes, followed by Chega with 7.84%, and the independent movement Fazer Serpa, led by former mayor João Rocha, with 6.88%.
In Sunday’s elections, there were 12,137 registered voters in this municipality, with a turnout of 63.91% (abstention was 36.09%). Blank votes accounted for 1.13% while null votes were 0.86%, according to the provisional results from the MAI.
