Inês de Medeiros, president of Almada since 2017 and candidate for a third term, announced her candidacy for the upcoming municipal elections on October 12 under the motto “Plan A is Almada,” with the event attended by PS Secretary-General José Luis Carneiro.
“As I present myself as a candidate for a third term as president of the Almada City Council, I am fully aware that we will be assessed not only by what we promise but above all by what we have accomplished over these eight years,” stated the candidate, praising the work of local officials across the country for facing unexpected challenges over the past eight years, such as the pandemic, political instability, and the transfer of powers.
Addressing housing issues, Inês de Medeiros remarked that it is probably the greatest challenge Almada has faced in decades, noting significant progress over the last eight years in organizing municipal housing allocation rules, ensuring that these homes are given to those in greatest need, updating rents, and combating illegal occupations.
Regarding construction and redevelopment, under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Inês de Medeiros noted that 350 keys have been handed over, with 270 more homes under construction or in the final planning stages.
For affordable housing, under the protocol with the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) signed in 2019, she shared that construction of 620 homes is underway, with preparations for an additional 520.
“With this increase in public housing in Almada and the incentives and regulations in the proposed revision of the Municipal Master Plan, we aim to exceed 6% public housing in our municipality by the end of the term, setting an example for the national scenario,” she emphasized.
During her speech, the socialist candidate and current mayor of Almada also criticized the uncontrolled growth of an illegal neighborhood on state land, accusing the IHRU of “total and scandalous inaction.”
“I’m referring to the Penajóia and Raposo plots. Let me be very clear, the situation there, which is indeed dire, must be resolved by those who allowed it to happen and even prevented the Almada City Council from acting when it still could,” stated Inês de Medeiros.
The mayor assured that the Almada City Council will continue to press the IHRU and will stand “unwaveringly alongside the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, such as Bairro Amarelo, Bairro Branco, Bairro do Matador, and the old Bairro do Raposo.”
“We stand by those communities who also suffer from what is happening there. We do not condone or accept the scandalous dealings that flourish there, once again exploiting the most vulnerable and weakest, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that the Government, once and for all, fulfills its obligation and mission to guarantee the constitutional right to decent housing for all. We are fulfilling our duty to the people of Almada,” she said.
In her address, Inês de Medeiros also touched on urban hygiene, noting that although investments have been made in this area, efforts remain inadequate due to the financial burdens municipalities face, which diverts funds that could be invested locally.
“Eighty percent of our urban hygiene budget (12 million euros), excluding human resources, goes to a private company named Amarsul that fails to fulfill its obligations. This is unsustainable for any municipality,” she added, asserting that “Portugal cannot achieve its European targets at the municipalities’ expense.”
Inês de Medeiros expressed confidence that on October 12, there will be a significant victory not only for the PS but also for democratic forces against those who “only spread hate and feed frustrations, embarrassing us daily by not respecting basic principles of civility, community spirit, and human dignity.”
“We are also running against them. We are always willing to engage with those who defend democratic values and will never accept those who do not, standing firm to fight against those we do not want in Almada,” she emphasized.
The current municipal executive led by Inês de Medeiros comprises five PS members, four CDU, one BE, and one PSD. In both 2017 and 2021, PS and PSD formed a coalition to establish an absolute majority in the executive.
According to the National Statistics Institute, the municipality of Almada has nearly 184,000 inhabitants, spread over 70 square kilometers.
