During a press briefing at a Lisbon hotel where the CDU election night is underway, Carina Castro stated that final results are still awaited, but noted that for the coalition to secure majorities and municipal presidencies, a “very significant expansion” of its results compared to the legislative elections in May is required.
“We feel that this expansion has occurred. It is essential now, in all cases, to determine if it is sufficient to translate into majorities and presidencies, and also into the conquest of majorities and presidencies in new municipalities,” she said, as a member of the Political Committee of the PCP Central Committee.
Asked about the specific case of Setúbal, which the CDU has managed since 2001 but is projected to finish fourth in these local elections, Castro noted that these elections were held in a context where “many elements influenced the outcome” that will become apparent now.
“Obviously, if the result is as projected, we remain concerned about the future of that municipality’s direction, but we must wait for the results,” she stated.
When questioned if the projections for Lisbon, indicating a technical tie between Carlos Moedas and Alexandra Leitão, bolster the argument that the PCP should have joined a coalition with the PS, Castro responded that if the forces aligned with the PS in the capital (Livre, BE, and PAN) had maintained their results from four years ago, they would have had “enough votes to win against the results that PSD and IL got in the last elections.”
“And, therefore, I would say that maintaining the results from four years ago would have been sufficient. These are the facts we have, and they are quite self-explanatory,” she added.
Regarding projections indicating that the CDU might have outpaced Chega in Lisbon, Castro expressed that the capital’s citizens are looking forward to “opening a path to an alternative that breaks with a course that has disrupted their lives and displaced many people from this city.”
“Our campaign has focused on showcasing these alternative paths and the accumulation of forces to solidify this alternative in Lisbon’s future. I believe the construction and strengthening of this alternative will be a sign of confidence for all the city’s residents,” she said.
