“It’s going very well in the streets, people receive us well, they’re friendly, this is exactly what we need, to come and talk with people on the streets,” remarked a candidate, who claimed to have been engaging with Lisboetas for several months.
As she navigates through the event, the socialist leading the coalition of PS, Livre, BE, and PAN notes a decrease in attendees at Feira do Relógio. “I’ve been here when it was more crowded,” she recalls, reflecting on her last legislative campaign encounter there.
José Pinheiro, who has managed a furniture stall for 50 years, spends 162 euros monthly for four Sundays and has witnessed many merchants leaving. “That street over there used to be full, [but now] it’s empty due to price hikes,” he observes.
As Alexandra Leitão crosses his path, Pinheiro shares his concern over potential space rental increases.
Though he votes for PS, he acknowledges that Carlos Moedas, the current president and candidate for “Por ti, Lisboa” coalition (PSD, CDS-PP, and IL), reduced the rent by seven euros, which makes a significant difference given that “business is slow and stagnant.”
The recandidate for the Marvila parish council, António Videira, quickly dismisses these rumors, ensuring there will be no increase, promising instead an effort to reduce costs by “10 to 15%.”
A vendor recalls a promise made by António Videira to assist her in finding housing, expressing dissatisfaction by saying, “You promised and didn’t help,” echoed by others in complaint: “That’s what they all do, promise, promise,” “they’re all the same,” “they just want the job,” “they just remembered to come here now.”
Despite the atmosphere, Alexandra Leitão appears to have secured the senior female electorate, as many women express their intention to vote for her.
These women primarily recognize the PS, prompting the candidate to explain that what will appear on the ballot is a coalition of four parties.
The event also featured the PS parliamentary leader, Eurico Brilhante Dias, with whom Alexandra Leitão discussed projections of election outcomes in other areas. “We’re neck and neck in many,” they cheerfully noted.
The approach of a CDU entourage (supporting João Ferreira for Lisbon) brought a rise in volume and exchanges of pamphlets, yet greetings remained cordial.
In a diverse market atmosphere, the leading candidate of the PS, Livre, BE, and PAN coalition stressed, “Lisbon has always been an open city, a gateway to diversity and many cultures,” emphasizing the need for “the right public policies” to foster integration.
On October 5th, “an important day for Lisbon” marking the proclamation of the Republic at the town hall, Alexandra Leitão refuted claims of worsening conditions.
“The state of this Republic, 51 years after April 25th, is significantly better than it was before April 25th,” she highlighted, citing indicators such as education, health, illiteracy, infant mortality, and life expectancy.
“Does this mean things can’t improve? No, of course, they must improve,” she stated, turning her focus on Lisbon, which she described as “a more unequal city than it was four years ago,” where “housing is an emergency, a despair.”
