In the early evening, Luís Montenegro was still speaking in Lousada, despite a scheduled campaign rally in Gondomar. This marked his third interaction with the public that afternoon, following stops in Valongo and Paços de Ferreira.
In these three municipalities, where the PSD candidates contest seats held by the PS, no incumbent mayors are seeking re-election. Perhaps as a result, Montenegro managed three consecutive public engagements within three hours, sometimes having to wait for the press to arrive—his last event taking place under the moonlight.
In Lousada, what was initially intended to be brief remarks turned into a nearly 20-minute rally speech by the PSD leader in front of a crowded square.
“It is both possible and desirable for us not to lose the momentum we have demonstrated in running the country,” Montenegro expressed his support to the PSD/CDS-PP/IL candidate Leonel Vieira in Lousada.
Repeating his promise from visits to other districts, Luís Montenegro pledged “partnerships between the Government and local councils,” while issuing a cautionary note.
“The Government has supported all municipalities equally, without political bias. Often, however, leading municipalities are not the right people to take advantage of a Government that values everyone equally. This is something only the public can resolve,” he urged.
With a week remaining before the campaign’s end, Montenegro made repeated calls for mobilization among social democrats, emphasizing that they can’t afford to lose the local elections in the municipalities he visited.
“Montenegro, friends, Paços stands with you,” chanted attendees in the ‘Capital of Furniture,’ a standard campaign slogan that sparked smiles among those present. This comes a day after former PSD leader Pedro Passos Coelho campaigned alongside Amadora candidate Suzana Garcia—outside the national local election circuit.
