The liberal caravan, led by Mariana Leitão, has been traveling through municipalities where IL runs either alone or in coalition, often favoring the PSD as a preferred partner. Except for Oeiras, where the IL president previously served as a municipal deputy, Leitão has avoided commenting on the social-democratic choices.
In Setúbal, the PSD lacks its own candidate and has opted to support Maria das Dores Meira, a former communist who attempted to win Almada for the CDU four years ago, a decision that faced criticism from the local structure.
The financial management of Dores Meira was scrutinized in a municipal audit, but Mariana Leitão chose to focus her speech in Setúbal on the qualities of their candidate, Flávio Lança.
“We criticize and condemn any situation involving local officials who do not act as they should,” Leitão stated. “If the PSD makes these choices, it’s their problem, and voters have the opportunity on the 12th to express their displeasure with this decision,” she added.
“In all municipalities where we compete, we do so with the belief of presenting solutions to solve people’s problems, whether here in Setúbal with our own candidacy or in Lisbon with the social-democrat Carlos Moedas in a coalition where we incorporate liberal proposals that will make a difference for Lisbon residents,” Leitão explained.
The election race in Setúbal remains uncertain, with André Martins of the Ecologist Party “The Greens” (PEV) seeking a second term against Dores Meira, who leads an independent movement, and against the socialist deputy Fernando José, whose campaign is endorsed by Carlos Sousa, the former mayor of Setúbal and Palmela, dismissed by the PCP due to his connections to party reformists.
Representing Chega is António Cachaço, who replaced the initial candidate, former social-democratic deputy Lina Lopes, in August after she alleged being a victim of blackmail and a defamation campaign.
