“Our ambition is to be part of the Government solution. I am confident that in eight days we will be disputing third place and leaving the far-right party behind,” referring to Chega, declared Hélder Sousa.
The cultural programmer commented on the polls placing Livre as the city’s fourth political force, aiming to secure a position in the executive for the first time, stating that such developments “certainly motivate” the remainder of the campaign.
Lacking a “left-wing convergence” with the Left Bloc and CDU, which “was not possible,” the list’s ambition is to elect “two councilors and be part of the government solution,” expressing willingness to engage with all left-wing parties for this outcome.
The candidate spoke to journalists during a visit to an area between the parishes of Bonfim and Campanhã, beginning at Rua Barão de Nova Sintra, near Parque das Águas, to examine “the new developments the area has undergone.”
“It is an area of historic estates, with much biodiversity. (…) We are now facing the new city emerging on the Douro slope. It is a city marked by speculation, handed to high-end real estate. This was an area with two great potentials, one as a nature reserve, very close to the Waters, and the other for urbanizable free land where we could build homes for people to live, outside the speculative market,” he noted.
The candidate observed a region on the path to “gentrification,” near Campanhã, one of the last places in the city “where you can think of a Porto for the 21st century, for future generations, combining mobility, green spaces, and housing,” he lamented.
Asked about Pedro Duarte’s (PSD/CDS-PP/IL) statements on city safety, he lamented “that someone who claims to be a social democrat has such discourse,” and countered that “housing security, for women suffering daily from domestic violence and road safety” are the priorities of the Portuguese people he listens to on the street.
“People are concerned with better public transport, affordable housing, and the public space they frequent every day,” he declared.
Competing for the Porto City Hall are Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU – coalition PCP/PEV), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro – coalition NC/PPM), Pedro Duarte (coalition PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Sérgio Aires (BE), current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto – independent), Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Volt), Hélder Sousa (Livre), Miguel Corte-Real (Chega), Frederico Duarte Carvalho (ADN), Maria Amélia Costa (PTP), and Luís Tinoco Azevedo (PLS).
The current executive comprises a majority of six elected from Rui Moreira’s movement and one independent councilor, with the remaining two elected from PS, two from PSD, one from CDU, and one from BE.
The local elections will take place on October 12.
