The invitation by Álvaro Beijinha (CDU) was extended in a letter sent this week to the Prime Minister, following his assumption of duties at the Municipality of Sines in the district of Setúbal, where he declared it his top priority.
In a statement released today, the municipality emphasized that in the letter, the mayor highlighted the “strategic importance of Sines as a first-order priority for Portugal and Europe,” as well as “the challenges this position presents locally to Sines” and its residents.
“At a time when the world is facing profound economic, energy, and environmental transformations, I consider it extremely important that Your Excellency can closely understand the dynamics taking place here,” expressed the mayor, addressing Luís Montenegro and quoted in the statement.
In the letter to the head of government, the communist mayor stressed that “Sines is at the heart of a new vision for the future,” acting as “a hub of innovation, clean energy, sustainable industry, and global connectivity, capable of enhancing Portugal’s strategic autonomy and its leadership role in the Atlantic and European space.”
However, he warned, “the major investments currently underway – both public and private – represent not just opportunities for economic growth but also significant challenges in areas such as housing, the environment, and infrastructure, requiring coordinated responses and an integrated vision of territorial development.”
In the letter, Álvaro Beijinha argued that should the Prime Minister visit Sines, it “will be a clear sign of the government’s commitment to this territory and the recognition of the role Portugal can and should play in the world.”
The current executive of the Sines City Council comprises three CDU members – Álvaro Beijinha, Fernanda Duarte, and Ana Dias Correia -, two from MAIS – Gonçalo Naves and Jorge Mestre, replacing Cármen Francisco, who resigned “due to professional constraints” -, one from the PS (Filipa Faria) and one from PSD/CDS-PP (Miguel Vaz).
