The Cascais branch of the Iniciativa Liberal (IL) is set to introduce candidates for the local government bodies on June 25 at 7 p.m. at the Cascais Cultural Center. This event will highlight their “ambitious plan to reform the local government machine.”
Following the announcement of the manager and former Media Capital marketing director, Manuel Simões de Almeida, as the head of the council executive’s list, the party will now present Carlos Paiva Raposo for the Municipal Assembly, according to a statement obtained by Notícias ao Minuto.
For the Parish Assemblies, Álvaro Gil will lead the list for Cascais and Estoril, while Cláudia Cheio will head the list for Carcavelos and Parede. Vasco Duarte and Catarina Morgado will respectively lead the lists for Alcabideche and São Domingos de Rana.
“IL has an ambitious plan to reform the local government machine in Cascais, focusing on reducing bureaucracy so that any interaction with City Council services is digital, quick, and low-cost for residents. Local power must not continue to hinder people’s lives and work. It needs to be reformed to provide more effective responses and know when to step aside when it hinders more than it helps,” stated Manuel Simões de Almeida in the same note.
The party, which champions a program centered on ‘Quality of Life and Local Government Management,’ also pointed out that “the development model of Cascais is exhausted and outdated in relation to the residents’ needs and desires.”
Having managed to elect three councilors in 2021 among the candidacies presented to the six council bodies, IL now aims to “significantly grow in the council and to lead and influence the future of all those who live, work, or study in Cascais.”
The event will also feature an address by former deputy, vice-president, and current National Council member of IL, Bernardo Blanco.
The party decided on Sunday to run independently for the presidencies of the Municipal Councils of Cascais, Oeiras, Almada, Setúbal, Santarém, Viana do Castelo, Castelo Branco, Ponte de Lima, Santa Maria da Feira, Oliveira de Azeméis, São João da Madeira, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Vila Verde, Figueira da Foz, Albufeira, Caldas da Rainha, and Torres Vedras.
However, IL will join coalitions for candidacies in the municipalities of Porto, Santo Tirso, Loulé, Portimão, Vizela, Mirandela, Covilhã, Silves, Bombarral, Arruda dos Vinhos, Almeirim, Montijo, and Santa Comba Dão, either with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS-PP, or with just one of these parties.
Regarding Porto, the National Council has chosen to support the PSD candidate, former Minister Pedro Duarte. In April, Porto’s branch of CDS-PP decided to support the social-democrat’s candidacy, but the party has yet to officially announce if it will join this coalition.
It should be noted that the local elections will take place between September and October this year.
