“We are convinced that we will continue to be the majority in the municipalities in our country, both in parishes and municipalities, and that is the goal for the municipal elections,” stated José Luís Carneiro during a meeting with the MPLA vice-president, Mara Quiosa.
The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, began a two-day visit to Luanda today, accompanied by the president of the socialist parliamentary group, Eurico Brilhante Dias. The visit aims to engage with the Portuguese community in Angola at a time when changes to the Nationality and Foreigners laws, which “have raised doubts and questions among some PALOP partners,” are under discussion, according to a party note.
When asked whether he would consider stepping down from the PS leadership if the party performed unsatisfactorily in the upcoming municipal elections, he responded with a message of confidence: “My strong conviction is that the Portuguese are well aware that the candidates of the Socialist Party are people who have delivered, are delivering, and can be trusted with their vote.”
The next municipal elections in Portugal are scheduled for October 12, 2025, at a time when the PS still holds the majority of city councils, having elected presidents in 148 out of 308 municipalities in 2021, despite losing some major cities like Lisbon and Coimbra.
Carneiro emphasized that these elections “are the assessment conducted in the 308 localities” and that the impact of local candidacies will be crucial, although he acknowledges there is also a “national political signal” associated with the results.
José Luís Carneiro’s visit to Angola, which takes place from today until Wednesday, includes meetings with Portuguese companies, a visit to the consulate-general in Luanda, and a dinner with representatives of the diaspora.
The socialist leader is also expected to be received by João Lourenço, President of Angola and president of the MPLA, which has been in power in Angola since 1975 and with whom a renewal of a party cooperation protocol was signed today.
