In the upcoming elections, Alberto Figueiredo, a former mayor of Esposende for ten years and elected under the PSD banner, is set to run as the leading candidate for the Municipal Assembly.
During a press conference, Carlos Silva revealed that in 2023, he was invited by then-mayor Benjamim Pereira to lead the municipal electoral list for this year’s elections. However, the party’s municipal branch chose Guilherme Emílio as their candidate.
“The vote was conducted by a show of hands and under pressure,” Carlos Silva criticized, alleging that the PSD in Esposende is “not a democratic party” and is instead controlled “by just two or three people.”
Carlos Silva mentioned that he proposed a “free internal election” to select the candidate, but this idea was never pursued.
“How can someone be respected on a municipal level if they aren’t serious within the party? Without democracy in the PSD, how can there be democracy in the municipality?” he questioned.
Carlos Silva had served as the president of the Municipal Assembly of Esposende since the start of the current term but left the position when the PSD announced Guilherme Emílio as the candidate for the 2025 mayoral race.
In December 2024, the PSD of Esposende approved Guilherme Emílio’s candidacy for the local chamber with 14 votes in favor and one abstention.
“The PSD of Esposende boasts excellent personnel, and the municipal branch considered other personalities before concluding that colleague Guilherme Emílio offers the greatest electoral success guarantees and is best suited to continue our municipality’s development project,” stated a party communiqué from that time.
Guilherme Emílio was the second on the PSD list in 2021, led by Benjamim Pereira, who won the election.
In September 2024, Benjamim Pereira departed to lead the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation, and Guilherme Emílio assumed the presidency of the Esposende City Council.
In today’s press conference, Carlos Silva announced that his candidacy would present lists in all of the municipality’s parishes.
He emphasized his aim to spearhead a project centered on “change” and serving the people, free from political games and maneuvers, without making grand promises, and without seeking “power for power’s sake.”
In 2021, the PSD won the Esposende council, electing six members to the executive, while the PS secured one seat.
The PS representative, Luís Peixoto, later became an independent.
The PS has chosen Pedro Durães Leite as their candidate for this year’s municipal elections, set to occur between September and October.
