“We call for a broad participation process on this megaproject. We demand its connection to the Regional Spatial Planning Program of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (PROT-AML) and we urge the Government, under the Housing Framework Law, to define a public program for affordable housing development at a metropolitan scale,” stated PCP councillor Ana Jara during the presentation of the motion at the city council’s public meeting.
The motion was approved with votes in favor from all opposition councillors, including PS, Livre, Citizens for Lisbon (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), PCP, and BE.
The PSD/CDS-PP leadership, which governs without an absolute majority, abstained, arguing that “it is evident that this large project inherently holds a vision for the metropolitan area.”
“This is so evident that we do not see ourselves in a motion asking the Government to take a certain approach, as it is clear it will do so and has been preparing this form of organization,” justified the Urbanism councillor, Joana Almeida (independent elected by the “New Times” coalition PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Alliance).
The subject is the Government’s project named “Tejo Cities Park,” which aims to “transform the riverside arc into a large metropolis where the river serves as a link between territories rather than separating them,” covering the municipalities of Lisbon, Loures, and Oeiras (in the Lisbon district), Almada, Barreiro, Seixal, and Montijo (in the Setúbal district), and Benavente (in the Santarém district). The plan includes building 25,000 homes and two new crossings over the Tagus River.
The project was presented on March 28 to the 18 mayors of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) and the mayor of Benavente by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro (PSD), accompanied by several ministers.
“The Government’s project appears out of nowhere” and “the presentation went unnoticed as if it were ordinary,” remarked the PCP councillor, highlighting that it involves “public lands with significant potential for real estate appreciation,” including Lisbon airport grounds.
Ana Jara emphasized that the project will have “immense impacts” on the AML and insisted that it must “serve the public interest,” warning that this “is not reflected” in the available documents.
The communist councillor further stated that “it is unacceptable” for the project to be outside the regional planning framework and stressed that it must be integrated, given its “structural implications,” suggesting that the public lands involved be used for housing, with “a substantial percentage for affordable rent.”
The PCP’s motion urges the Government to initiate a review of the AML’s PROT to align with the development and spatial planning options outlined in the presentation of the Tejo Cities Park project as part of the preparation of this regional territorial management tool.
Currently, the Lisbon City Council executive, comprising 17 members, includes seven elected from the “New Times” coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Alliance)—the only ones assigned portfolios and who govern without a majority—three from the PS, two from the PCP, three from Citizens for Lisbon (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), one from Livre, and one from the BE.
