Despite their reduced numbers, former “dinosaurs” of local power are still present, with over a dozen already announcing their candidacies for the upcoming elections on October 12 (candidacies can be submitted until August 18).
In Setúbal, former president Maria das Dores Meira, who was elected by the CDU (PCP/PEV coalition) in three consecutive terms in 2009, 2013, and 2017, is set to run again for the presidency of the Sadino municipality in 2025, this time as an independent.
Though an independent, Dores Meira received the backing of the national PSD, causing displeasure within the local party.
With social-democratic support, Luís Filipe Menezes, former president of the PSD, is running again in Vila Nova de Gaia, a municipality he led for four terms (1997, 2001, 2005, and 2009), always with an absolute majority.
Menezes attempted to succeed in Porto in 2013, but lost the electoral battle to the current Porto president, independent Rui Moreira.
In the same 2013 elections, Nuno Cardoso, former president of the Porto City Council, who had assumed the position following Fernando Gomes (PS), from 1999 to late 2021, was also defeated.
Nuno Cardoso is running again in Porto as an independent under the “Pensar o Porto” movement.
Former president of the Estremoz City Council, Luís Mourinha, has announced a new candidacy for the presidency of the municipality in the Évora district, which he led for 12 years elected by the CDU, and another 10 by the Independent Movement for Estremoz (MIETZ), under which he is contesting again.
Mourinha’s last term was interrupted in 2019 when he was convicted by the court with a disqualification penalty for malfeasance.
In Vagos (Aveiro district), Rui Cruz (PSD) is returning as a candidate 12 years after passing the baton to Silvério Regalado, the current Secretary of State for Local Administration.
Rui Cruz served as president of the Vagos Municipal Council from 2001 to 2013.
Alberto Souto, president of the Aveiro City Council from 1998 to 2005, for the PS, and former Deputy Secretary of State for Communications, seeks to return to the municipal presidency as the socialist candidate.
Alberto’s primary opponent is his brother, Luís Souto, selected by the PSD to succeed social-democrat Ribau Esteves, who leaves the municipality due to term limits.
In Ponte da Barca (Viana do Castelo district), the PS has announced Vassalo Abreu, who presided over the council from 2005 to 2017, as their top candidate.
The former president of the Pedrógão Grande City Council (Leiria), João Marques, is again the PSD candidate for the municipality in the Leiria district, where he served four terms as president from 1997 to 2013, stepping down due to term limits.
The social-democrat Hélder Sousa e Silva was president of the Mafra City Council from 2013 to 2024, when he resigned to assume the role of MEP.
Hélder Sousa e Silva, who led the Social Democrat Mayors, has been chosen by the PSD to run for the Almada City Council in this year’s elections.
Former president of the Alcochete City Council, Luís Miguel Franco (CDU), elected in 2005, 2009, and 2013, paused for four years due to term limits, lost the city council race in 2021 in the village within the Setúbal district, and remained as councillor.
Luís Franco is running again for president in 2025 for the CDU, but this time for the Montijo City Council.
Rui Marques Luís (PSD) was president of the Ponta do Sol City Council, in Madeira, in 2005, 2009, and 2013, having left the role in 2017 after completing three consecutive terms, and is now once again the social-democrat leading candidate for the same Madeira municipality.
João Azevedo, president of Mangualde from 2009 to 2019, when he left mid-term to become a deputy, is running again for the PS in the Viseu City Council, to which he already applied in 2021, but lost to the social-democrat Fernando Ruas, another notable local figure, who returned then to the municipality he led from 1989 to 2013.
Former president of the Castelo Branco City Council, José Augusto Alves, did not become a “dinosaur,” as he presided over from 2020 to 2021 (when he replaced socialist Luís Correia, who was disqualified after signing two contracts with a company owned by his father).
José Augusto Alves, vice-president of the albicastrense municipality between 2017 and 2020, is now entering elections heading the list of the coalition Sempre Por Todos, which includes PSD, CDS, and Sempre—Independent Movement.
There are also two “dinosaurs” returning “home” without having ceased to be city council presidents: the Évora City Council president, Carlos Pinto de Sá (CDU), is at the end of three consecutive terms, the legal limit, and is once more leading the CDU list for the Montemor-o-Novo City Council, which he already led from 1993 to 2013.
The other case is Vítor Proença, who cannot run again in Alcácer do Sal, so in the next local elections, he is the CDU candidate for the Santiago do Cacém City Council, which he led from 2001 to 2013.
Besides the former city council presidents aiming to return, there are also municipal leaders who held other responsibilities and are now candidates again: an example is Paulo de Morais, former deputy president of the Porto City Council, independent presidential candidate in 2016, and now the PSD candidate for the Viana do Castelo City Council.
