“The candidates include men and women from different age groups and professional backgrounds, encompassing individuals from both the public and private sectors. What unites them is their deep connection to Porto, a city they know well, and their proven track records at both national and international levels. This team is composed of city natives, accustomed to rolling up their sleeves and getting things done with a distinct Porto spirit,” stated the candidate.
Filipe Araújo emphasized that the councilor candidates introduced today are committed to the common good, focusing on the interests of the citizens of Porto rather than personal or party interests, highlighting their dedication to both present and future generations.
“These are people with innovative, bold, and creative visions, aiming to transform the city to address current challenges while keeping an eye on a sustainable future for younger generations,” he remarked.
Today, 12 names were unveiled, starting with lawyer Cristina Passos, currently the president of the Porto Solidário general assembly, and former director of resources and special projects at the Serralves Foundation.
Ranked third and fourth are Daniel Freitas, director for Carbon Neutrality in Porto and head of the Porto Climate Pact, who is also a lecturer at the Porto Faculty of Economics, and Teresa Calix, vice-director of FAUP (Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto). Fifth on the list is social entrepreneur Miguel Neiva, creator of ColorADD, a universal color identification system for color-blind people.
Lawyer Helena Tavares, executive administrator of Porto Ambiente, former advisor to the Minister of Economy (2014/2015), chief of staff to the Mayor of Porto until 2021, and a member of the board of the Civic Association “Porto, o Nosso Movimento,” is sixth.
In seventh place is Patrícia Amado Reis, an economics graduate with academic training in risk management, leadership, design thinking, and taxation. Eighth is a manager at a Portuguese cybersecurity company and a consultant in technology and sales team development, Filipe Gonçalves.
Ninth is architect Manuel Oliveira Martins, a partner at Quality, Engenharia e Serviços, and former regional director of DECO Norte in 2014. Tenth is Ana Rita Barros, co-founder of the FOCA – Focus On Critical Actions association, ambassador of the European Climate Pact, and former president of the Federation of Youth Associations of the Porto District (2023/2025).
Also on Filipe Araújo’s list, in 11th place, is Pedro Assunção, part of the TEDxPorto team since 2019, focusing on speaker curation in science, medicine, and innovation. In 12th place is Isabel Branco Martins, a retired professor from the Porto Institute of Engineering, who was a guest collaborator at the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
Finally, in 13th place, is architect, urban planner, and researcher Rui Loza, coordinator of the Porto Historical Center’s candidacy for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List (1996), and a former city councilor for Urban Planning and deputy mayor in 2017.
“There is a wide range of perspectives among these individuals, but our choice is not based on that. We selected those genuinely interested in the city, well-acquainted with its nuances, and demonstrating the ability to achieve results,” summed up Filipe Araújo, on a day when he inaugurates his campaign headquarters on Rua Faria de Guimarães.
Contenders for the Porto City Hall include Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro movement), Aníbal Pinto (New Right), Pedro Duarte from the “O Porto Somos Nós” coalition (PSD/IL/CDS-PP), Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Volt), the current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto movement), António Araújo (Porto à Porto movement), Hélder Sousa (Livre), Miguel Corte-Real (Chega), and Sérgio Aires (BE).
The current executive consists of a majority of six elected members from the Rui Moreira movement and an independent councilor, with the rest being two elected from PS, two from PSD, one from CDU, and one from BE.
The municipal elections are scheduled for October 12.
