In October of last year, during the 5th National Conference in Porto, BE approved a document outlining its strategy for local elections, aiming to “create social alliances in local political transformation projects on the left, offering alternatives to the local governance of PS and PSD” whenever possible.
In Lisbon, the party expressed openness to form a left-wing coalition, including PS, to defeat Carlos Moedas (PSD).
This coalition, announced on July 17, led by socialist Alexandra Leitão, brings together PS, Livre, BE, and PAN under the slogan “Viver Lisboa”.
This collaboration is one of the most significant that the bloc joins in these local elections, though not the only one. According to Isabel Pires, responsible for overseeing these elections, BE is still “constructing local lists across all districts and regions, maintaining a presence in territories where it has traditionally competed,” currently part of approximately two dozen coalitions.
Although provisional, this number far exceeds the two coalitions BE participated in during the last local elections in 2021—Oeiras and Funchal.
These coalitions include collaborations with PS, Livre, and PAN in Albufeira and Ponta Delgada, besides the nation’s capital; with Livre and PAN in Cascais, Figueira da Foz, Leiria, Loures, Odivelas, Olhão, Portimão, and Silves; only with Livre in Barreiro, Castelo Branco, Loulé, Odemira, and Santarém; and in Oeiras, with Livre, Volt, and the independent movement “Evoluir Oeiras”.
In other municipalities, BE has fielded strong party figures: former deputy José Manuel Pureza leads the list for Coimbra, while former parliamentary leader Pedro Filipe Soares is a candidate in Matosinhos. In Porto, the BE is represented by independent Sérgio Aires.
Party data shows that the bloc currently holds five elected councilors in Lisbon, Almada, Porto, and Salvaterra de Magos— including the mandate from the Evoluir Oeiras coalition—alongside 94 municipal deputies and 162 members elected to parish assemblies.
In the 2021 elections, BE ranked fifth nationally with 2.75% of the votes, which, however, did not translate into winning any municipal chamber and resulted in a significant reduction in the number of councilors from 12.
The importance of establishing left-wing alliances has been highlighted multiple times by national coordinator Mariana Mortágua, especially after the legislative elections in May, where BE was reduced to only one deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, marking its worst result ever.
The local elections come at a critical time for the party, which meets in November at its XIV National Convention, facing four motions opposing Mortágua’s leadership, citing a lack of internal democracy and calling for more attention to the grassroots.
When asked about electoral goals, Isabel Pires stated that BE “aims to strengthen its representation in local bodies, ensuring that its proposals—particularly in housing, environment, and mobility—are included in local agendas”.
“Recognizing the complex political context marked by a right-wing parliamentary majority, the Bloc will focus its campaign on defending robust public services and building alternatives to liberal policies, aspiring to increase its influence in local municipalities,” added the BE representative.
The local elections are scheduled for October 12.
