“The data is not final yet, there are still some precincts to be accounted for, but the information we have suggests a victory for the Alliance [coalition PSD/CDS-PP/PPM]”, stated the candidate at 11:30 PM before the official results were announced.
At 11:30 PM, provisional data from the Ministry of Internal Administration (SGMAI) indicated that the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition, led by Luís Souto, garnered 42.04% of the votes (10,245 votes), while the PS had 31.20% (7,604 votes), with results from two out of ten precincts still pending.
“We don’t know the assigned mandates yet, it seems it will be 4-4-1, perhaps, and therefore, I have already congratulated my brother, wishing him the best”, said the socialist, adding that he will not take up his place in the council.
Alberto Souto expressed satisfaction with the campaign but admitted it was “not effective enough to reach the rural precincts with the necessary intensity to recover the vote difference.”
“We started with ten precincts at zero, as is known, with half the votes. So, we recovered significantly, but it wasn’t enough,” he noted.
“I regret it greatly because we had major projects and ideas that we believed were the best to have, but that’s democracy. So, I honor the winners,” he concluded.
Asked about his political future, he mentioned returning to private life: “My political future is returning to my vineyard, making wine, and managing my private life, which is what I was doing before this challenge was taken up.”
Four years ago, the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM secured an absolute majority with 51.26% of the votes (17,549), electing the president and five councilors, followed by the PS with 26% (8,901) and three councilors. The coalition also won nine out of ten precincts, later winning the last one in supplementary elections.
The 2021-2025 executive is led by the social democrat Ribau Esteves, who, in his third term, is joined by five other elected members of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition and three from the PS/PAN coalition, including two from the PS and one independent (former PS).
Candidates for the presidency of the Aveiro City Council included Alberto Souto (PS), Luís Souto (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), Diogo Machado (Chega), João Moniz (BE), Isabel Tavares (CDU), Miguel Gomes (IL), Bruno Fonseca (Livre), Ana Rita Moreira (PAN), and Paulo Alves (Nós, Cidadãos!).
