Speaking on the sidelines of his candidacy presentation in a Porto garden, Sérgio Aires emphasized that security differentiates the BE from other parties, highlighting that the true security people need involves housing, income, public services, and a decent life in the city.
“What everyone is clamoring for now, honestly troubling to me, is to create alarm about the city’s security, when the city is considered, according to official numbers, as one of the safest in the world. It makes no sense,” critiqued the BE councilor in Porto’s executive.
The candidate attributed the “alarmism” to what he described as the exploitation of a “populist discourse, somewhat racist, also xenophobic, often supported by immigration issues,” a discourse he completely rejects.
In this context, he declared a commitment to “try to convince people, because the danger” lies in the opposite, arguing that there is no reason for “people to abandon public spaces,” claiming that this is the “worst” thing that can be done for the city’s security.
“Unlike cities like Barcelona, where citizens remained in the streets, continued to occupy their public spaces to prevent insecurity from growing, we risk once again having empty streets, especially at night, with people afraid to go out, impacting the night economy and local economy,” warned Sérgio Aires.
On housing, the BE candidate pointed out “20,000 round numbers of vacant homes, with interventions carried out by the council on only 300,” advocating for the council to create “an emergency service and allocate all available resources, knowing the processes are complicated, to take possession of those homes.”
With proposals in Mobility, Culture, Education, Care and Civil Protection, Local Economy and labor rights, public spaces, and climate, Sérgio Aires aims to initiate change in the city through a convergence of left-wing parties, maintaining openness for dialogue and partnerships.
“All efforts were evidently made, in our opinion to the utmost limits, surpassing even the boundary where I was willing not to be the lead candidate on a coalition list,” he said regarding a coalition proposal with Livre.
He continued: “No lists have been submitted yet, so it’s still possible to address a sentiment prevalent in the city, particularly among left-leaning individuals, that unity on the left is crucial to combat and reverse these 24 years of right-wing rule in the city.”
Candidates for the Porto City Council include Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro movement), Aníbal Pinto (Nova Direita), Pedro Duarte for the “O Porto Somos Nós” coalition (PSD/IL/CDS-PP), Sérgio Aires (BE), current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto movement), António Araújo (Porto à Porto movement), Alexandre Guilherme Jorge (Volt), Hélder Sousa (Livre), and Miguel Corte-Real (Chega).
The current executive comprises a majority of six elected members from Rui Moreira’s movement and an independent councilor, with the remaining two elected from PS, two from PSD, one from CDU, and one from BE.
Local elections are scheduled for October 12.
