The party’s program outlines that the major meeting will commence at 09:30 at the Monastery of São Bento da Vitória and conclude by 19:00, featuring speeches from candidates in the municipal elections scheduled for October 12 and addresses from spokespeople Rui Tavares and Isabel Mendes Lopes.
This congress also marks Livre’s political ‘rentrée.’
The meeting was initially planned for September 6 and 7, also in Porto, but was rescheduled to this week due to the accident involving the Elevador da Glória, which resulted in 16 fatalities and several injuries at the beginning of the month.
According to an official party source, among a total of forty-nine candidacies, Livre involves 25 coalitions with left-wing parties, focusing majorly on Lisbon, led by socialist Alexandra Leitão in partnership with PS, Livre, BE, and PAN; Sintra, with socialist Ana Mendes Godinho supported by PS and Livre; and Porto, where the party is fielding its member Hélder Sousa.
Overall, Livre has formed coalitions with PS, BE, and PAN in Lisbon, Albufeira, and Ponta Delgada; solely with PS in Felgueiras and Sintra; with PAN and PS in Póvoa de Varzim and Trofa; with independents (Citizens for Coimbra), PS, and PAN in Coimbra; with the independent movement “Evolve Oeiras,” BE, and Volt in Oeiras; with BE and PAN in Cascais, Figueira da Foz, Leiria, Loures, Odivelas, Portimão, Silves, and Santiago do Cacém; and only with BE in Almada, Barreiro, Castelo Branco, Loulé, Odemira, Santarém, Seixal, and Vila Nova de Gaia.
Livre is also presenting its own lists in Amadora, Aveiro, Barcelos, Braga, Caldas da Rainha, Entroncamento, Faro, Funchal, Gondomar, Lagos, Matosinhos, Montijo, Oliveira de Azeméis, Paços de Ferreira, Penafiel, Peniche, Porto, Rio Maior, Santa Maria da Feira, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Tomar, Viana do Castelo, Vila Franca de Xira, and Vila Real.
None of the six deputies in the Assembly of the Republic will be candidates in the municipal elections.
In the last municipal elections in 2021, Livre secured eight local representatives, which they retain to this day: a councilor in Lisbon (Rui Tavares), a municipal deputy in Lisbon (Isabel Mendes Lopes), representatives in Oeiras, Felgueiras, and Vila Real de Santo António, and three members in the parish assemblies of Penha de França, Lumiar, and Carnaxide and Queijas.
