The economist Alexandre Abreu, who has served as a municipal deputy for BE, officially launched his candidacy for the Cascais City Council, supported by a coalition formed by BE, Livre, and PAN. The campaign, under the slogan “Futuro em Comum,” features Safaa Dib from Livre as the candidate for the Municipal Assembly and João Paulo Batalha as the representative.
During the candidacy presentation held at the Parque Urbano da Quinta de Rana, the three leaders praised the candidates and the representative, known for his anti-corruption stance, while also emphasizing the national significance of this alliance “between people frequently on the right side of a parliament capable of dialogue.”
Rui Tavares, a deputy and spokesperson for Livre, argued that the coalition is based on a shared vision of the future and freedom, which he believes has recently been distorted. He contrasted two societal visions.
“Do we want a distrusting country, with the poor angry at the unfortunate, who are angry at the destitute, upset with the neighbor on the opposite street, all enraged with immigrants? Or do we prefer a nation exemplified by the best of Portugal, and similarly, the remarkable Cascais—an environment of mutual help and shared responsibility, where everyone is accountable for the future, a nation of kindness?” he asked.
BE coordinator Mariana Mortágua directly criticized the current PSD/CDS-PP government, accusing it of replacing policies on public services with an anti-immigration agenda.
“The right echoes far-right topics because it seeks power and intends to stay in power. It’s merely opportunistic politics,” she accused, suggesting that Chega scarcely needs ministers to gain power since PSD officials have acted as “interpreters of far-right policies.”
Conversely, she argued, the three parties involved in the Cascais municipal coalition aim to “resist increasingly strong winds and change their direction, altering the river’s course, combating this historical wave.”
“For this, we need two things: the first is to unite forces, parties, social movements, independents, civil society, gathering everyone who supports this program. Secondly, we require a program, vision, and project,” she stated, suggesting this union in Cascais could be a starting point.
PAN leader Inês Sousa Real also emphasized that the three parties are “on the right side of history” and will cooperate “throughout other areas of the country.”
“Not only Cascais but also Portugal currently faces a substantial challenge, democratic, with good policies, creating a place for global thinking and ensuring a future for present and future generations,” she remarked.
Candidate Alexandre Abreu highlighted his prior work in the municipality and praised this coalition for tackling “forces of hatred and division.”
At the end, journalists questioned why the PS could not be included in the coalition, unlike in the case with the Lisbon City Council.
“The possibility of coalitions always depends on local political realities, and the PS proposals here in Cascais and their vision for the municipality significantly diverged from the common center vision of this coalition. From the start, neither they nor we were inclined to bridge these differences because they are simply too vast,” he explained.
Besides Alexandre Abreu, candidates already announced in the municipality include Nuno Piteira Lopes (PSD/CDS-PP), João Ruivo (PS), João Rodrigues dos Santos (Chega), Carlos Rabaçal (CDU), Manuel Simões de Almeida (IL), João Maria Jonet (independent), and António Pinto Pereira (independent, supported by Nova Direita and Nós, Cidadãos!).
Municipal elections are scheduled for October 12.
