The spokesperson for Livre, Rui Tavares, stated, “I believe one of the first tasks this coalition and movement must undertake with the citizens is to tell those who wish to vote for ‘isaltinismo’ that they have every right and legitimacy to vote for ‘isaltinismo’.
The leader was speaking during the launch of the ‘Evoluir Oeiras’ municipal candidacy, a coalition between Livre, Bloco de Esquerda (BE), and Volt Portugal, headed by independent councilor Carla Castelo. The event took place at Miraflores Urban Park in the municipality.
Tavares emphasized that if a citizen of Oeiras wants to vote for Isaltino Morais (current president and independent candidate supported by PSD), they should do so, but without being misled.
“Do not vote for ‘isaltinismo light’, or those who promise opposition to ‘isaltinismo’ and then do not oppose it. Do not vote for a fictitious opposition. Those in Oeiras who want to oppose ‘isaltinismo’ have one option, which is the ‘Evoluir Oeiras’ coalition,” he asserted.
The Livre leader accused the current city council administration of “lack of transparency” and “lack of integrity,” posing a question.
“Sometimes people across the country wonder, but does Oeiras, known as the municipality with the highest education levels, really want to continue like this? Is this truly what the people of Oeiras desire? I am absolutely convinced that this is not what they want,” he declared.
Rui Tavares suggested that this “test of credibility” would manifest “in subsequent elections,” even if not in the upcoming ones on October 12.
“This moment could arrive in these elections or in future ones. However, the task for the next four years for Evoluir Oeiras, even if spent in opposition, is to spend the coming years preparing to govern Oeiras,” he argued.
Fabian Figueiredo, a national leader of BE attending on behalf of coordinator Mariana Mortágua, who is on a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza, described ‘isaltinismo’ as “a political movement that, unfortunately, has also taken over the Socialist Party and the PSD” and “occupied almost all national parties, with honorable exceptions.”
Offering high praise to the head of the list, Carla Castelo, Fabian Figueiredo mentioned knowing several mayors across the country, but few “who have been so attacked, harassed, and who, despite this constant ‘bullying’, never hesitated or buckled.”
“Carla Castelo, with her determination, elevated democracy in Oeiras. Power can be left or right, but no power is magnanimous and competent enough not to deserve opposition,” he defended.
Considering that Oeiras is not only playing for the future of the municipality but also “local Portuguese democracy,” Fabian Figueiredo criticized Isaltino Morais for using municipal budget funds to finance his social media strategy.
“Isaltino Morais knows only two modes: either everyone dances to his tune, or it is to renounce, exclude, and humiliate,” he argued.
Inês Bravo Figueiredo from Volt Portugal also criticized the “opacity” and “lack of transparency” of the current city council administration.
The co-president of this party highlighted that members of the coalition, who ran for election four years ago, continued to insist on their proposals and “denunciations” even when told “to accept that in Oeiras things are stolen, but at least things get done.”
In the last municipal elections in 2021, the ‘Evoluir Oeiras’ coalition obtained 7.27% of the votes, electing Carla Castelo.
