“Where the CDS plays a significant role in local government, demonstrating its values in those mandates, and for others to enter, the CDS must step down or lower its stake, not having the expectation of exercising those mandates (…) then naturally the CDS will run independently,” he stated.
The centrist leader was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the closing session of the CDS-PP’s local governance convention, which took place this Saturday in Albergaria-a-Velha, in the district of Aveiro.
Asked about a possible coalition deal between the PSD and IL in Lisbon, Nuno Melo mentioned that this would not lead to the CDS’s exit from the coalition, as long as the party continues to be respected in the sense of being able to continue holding mandates, as it has been doing.
“There are coalitions currently in effect, and we understand that times change, and it may be convenient for other partners to join in some cases. Now, when other partners join, the CDS continues to be respected so that it can continue to hold mandates as before (…) naturally these coalitions may occur,” he asserted.
Nuno Melo further pointed out that in Lisbon, there is an ongoing negotiation process, emphasizing that the agreement “must be good for all parties.”
“If, after all considerations, the CDS concludes that, for us, the coalition is also good for the CDS, then the coalition will be formed. When and where the CDS believes that the coalition is not good, then the CDS will go to the polls independently. That is normal,” he stated.
In his closing speech at the local governance convention, Nuno Melo also said the only thing he would not accept is for coalitions to be formed “out of fear of going to the polls, or due to some form of favor or state of necessity.”
“There can only be one criterion for forming coalitions in Portugal, and that criterion is, to begin with, the notion or certainty that, together with others, we have a bigger project for the populations. But together with others, what the CDS will do is also with respect for our own party, which precisely because it wants to and not because it needs to, can also make a difference,” he concluded.
In 2021, the PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança coalition won the local elections in Lisbon, securing seven mandates.
Currently, the CDS holds two councilor positions in the executive led by the Social Democrat Carlos Moedas, including Vice-President Filipe Anacoreta Correia and Diogo Moura.
The local elections will take place on October 12.
