Alexandra Leitão addressed journalists, saying, “I am here to concede defeat. I have already congratulated Carlos Moedas.”
Describing the campaign as a “beautiful journey” and emphasizing that all efforts towards convergence for the common good are “always worthwhile,” the socialist, who led the Left alliance, stated she had already called Carlos Moedas to offer her congratulations.
“I fully take responsibility for a result that was not what we wanted,” she declared, promising a “firm” opposition. “In a democracy, the winner has the legitimacy to govern, and the loser has the legitimacy and duty to oppose. That is what we will do,” she reinforced.
“I alone am responsible for the coalition’s defeat,” she clarified.
Simultaneously, the socialist candidate, who will serve as a councilor, promised a “rigorous, firm, and proactive opposition,” which drew applause from supporters and sympathizers gathered at the Fórum Lisboa.
“In a democracy, the winner has the legitimacy to govern, and the loser has the legitimacy and duty to oppose. That is what we will do,” she assured.
Alexandra Leitão took “exclusive” responsibility for the defeat, acknowledging the result was not as desired, while also noting she has no regrets about the “beautiful journey” to this day.
“This path of convergence was good. The broader the convergences, the better,” she stated, accompanied on stage by the two spokespersons of Livre, Isabel Mendes Lopes and Rui Tavares, and the coordinator of BE, Mariana Mortágua.
“The courage of convergence will forever remain in our consciences,” she noted.
When asked about a potential alliance between the “Por ti, Lisboa” coalition (comprised of PSD, CDS-PP, and IL) led by Carlos Moedas and Chega, she replied, “We will see what they do; we will be here to criticize and to be very alert (…) so that this city does not become more unjust, exclusionary, and unequal.”
Highlighting that “some mandates are yet to be determined,” she conveyed “two certainties”: she will assume “the council position in opposition” and will do so with “will and rigor.”
