The former leader of PSD has joined the candidacy, acknowledging Marco Almeida’s connection to Sintra and expressing confidence in his capabilities and experience, according to the “Sempre com os Sintrenses” campaign.
The candidacy of the former social-democrat councilor highlighted in a statement that Ferreira Leite, a prominent figure in Portuguese public life known for her dedication and sense of responsibility, is associating with a “solid project led by someone with a proven track record in the municipality.”
“I accepted to be the representative because I recognize in Marco Almeida an experienced mayor with a proven track record and a good strategy for the municipality. In times when politics require ambition and commitment to the common good, I join a project with conviction that puts the people of Sintra first,” stated Manuela Ferreira Leite, quoted in the note.
For Marco Almeida, also quoted in the statement, the former Minister of Education under Cavaco Silva and Minister of Finance under Durão Barroso “is a national reference” and “having her as a representative is an honor and an added responsibility.”
“We are a unifying project that values experience, listens to the community, and builds solutions based on what really matters to the people of Sintra,” he added.
The former social-democrat councilor is running for the presidency of Sintra Municipality for the third time after being elected in 2001 on the PSD list led by Fernando Seara, serving as vice-president for 12 years.
In the administrations led by Seara, he assumed responsibilities in the areas of Education, Health, Social Action, Sports, Housing, Civil Protection, Environment, Urban Intervention, Youth, and coordination with parishes.
In the 2013 elections, he led the list of the Independent Autarchic Movement “Sintrenses com Marco Almeida,” a candidacy against PSD, being elected councilor and serving in a non-permanent regime. He terminated his social-democratic affiliation in February 2014.
In the subsequent elections in 2017, he again headed the list to Sintra Municipality, then as an independent in the “Juntos pelos Sintrenses” coalition of PSD, CDS-PP, PPM, and MPT, with former Christian-Democratic leader José Ribeiro e Castro leading the list to the Municipal Assembly, but he lost again to Basílio Horta from the PS, remaining as councilor and rejoining PSD in August 2018.
Politically, he was elected district counselor of JSD and delegate to the Lisbon Members Assembly of PSD, and counselor and member of the National Political Commission presided over by Manuela Ferreira Leite, between 2008 and 2010.
Marco Paulo Caldeira de Almeida, born in Lobito, Angola, 55, has a degree in History from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the New University of Lisbon, with a postgraduate degree in Sciences of Educational Branch, and since November 2017, he has served on the management board of the Alcoitão Higher School of Health, part of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisbon.
A teacher by profession, he was placed in several public schools and joined PSD on December 17, 1992, in the Cacém section, joining the executive of the Agualva-Cacém Parish Council the following year.
The Sintra Municipality is led by PS, which in the 2021 elections obtained five mandates, with the coalition led by social democrat Ricardo Batista Leite securing four officials. Chega elected Nuno Afonso, who later became an independent councilor, and CDU saw Pedro Ventura elected.
Municipal elections are expected to take place between September and October.
