The priority is for Coimbra to be an attractive city for young people. “We have excellent higher education institutions, research centers, good hospitals, a rich history, and cultural heritage, yet we continue to lose relative importance in the region,” remarked Ana Abrunhosa.
The former minister noted that despite claims of youth growth in Coimbra, this increase lags behind other municipalities in the region. Coimbra fails to retain approximately 8,500 young graduates each year.
“Why? Because we don’t provide conditions for them to settle and establish roots,” she stated.
For Ana Abrunhosa, it’s imperative for Coimbra to “turn the tide,” highlighting the need for more affordable housing, better job opportunities, and an enhanced quality of life in the city.
“Many young graduates leave because housing is expensive,” Abrunhosa observed, reaffirming the commitment to deliver 1,000 affordable housing units over four years.
Besides constructing public housing, partnerships with cooperatives and the private sector (developments with controlled-cost housing) could be established. The municipality could also make habitable housing available in the market, addressing “nearly eight thousand unoccupied homes in Coimbra,” she noted.
Furthermore, in employment and entrepreneurship, she reiterated the proposal to establish an investment agency at Estação Nova, aiming to actively seek value-added companies while supporting and incubating young entrepreneurs.
She criticized the current executive for doing little to make space available for businesses.
Ana Abrunhosa, speaking ahead of a cycling event in Vale das Flores, emphasized that Coimbra should be a city with “vibrant cultural programming,” offering leisure and sports facilities, green corridors, well-maintained gardens, and more playgrounds, aiming for a “clean and cared for” municipality with accessible public services.
Additionally, she envisions a city that can be “experienced on foot or by bicycle,” with more urban cycle paths and improved public transport.
“We don’t have streets; we have roads,” she critiqued.
Other candidates in Sunday’s election include the current mayor from the Juntos Somos Coimbra coalition (PSD/IL/CDS-PP/Nós, Cidadãos!/PPM/MPT/Volt), José Manuel Silva; the councilor Francisco Queirós, representing CDU (PCP/PEV); former deputy José Manuel Pureza from the Left Bloc; Maria Lencastre Portugal from Chega; Sancho Antunes from ADN; and Tiago Martins from Nova Direita.
The current executive comprises six members from the Juntos Somos Coimbra coalition, four from the PS, and one from the CDU.
