The convention will take place at the Alba cinema theater in Albergaria-a-Velha (Aveiro district) throughout the day.
The program, released today, indicates that the morning will feature training sessions on the platform that will record applications and results, financial regulations, and political communication, according to the municipal coordinator.
After a lunch break, the event will continue with political addresses from the local chairman of Albergaria-a-Velha, Henrique Caetano, the Aveiro district leader, Pedro Magalhães, the Mayor of Albergaria-a-Velha, António Loureiro, and the municipal coordinator of the CDS-PP, Fernando Barbosa.
A roundtable will follow, involving CDS-PP mayors, discussing ‘Local Power in Debate’, moderated by the president of Juventude Popular, Catarina Marinho.
The program also includes a panel on “local challenges and opportunities,” along with the presentation of municipal candidates.
The closing remarks will be delivered by Albergaria-a-Velha’s mayoral candidate, Carlos Coelho, and the CDS-PP president, Nuno Melo.
In remarks to Lusa, the centrist leader noted that “the municipal convention is the formal kickoff for the party in this important contest, given that it is a party with a strong municipal vocation, having over 1,700 elected municipal officers, surpassing the combined total of Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, BE, PAN, and Livre.”
Nuno Melo stated the party intends to maintain its leadership in the six municipalities it currently heads and “aspire to gain one or two more.”
“The municipal convention is a major kickoff event in a district where historically CDS holds significant sway, specifically Aveiro district, and will draw candidates from across the country. […] It will be a galvanizing moment for this battle we will face with great confidence,” he emphasized.
On Thursday night, the CDS-PP National Council approved more than 30 coalition agreements for the upcoming municipal elections on October 12, including Coimbra, Cascais, Oeiras, Vila Nova de Gaia, and Matosinhos.
In Porto, CDS-PP will be a part of the coalition “O Porto Somos Nós” (PSD/IL/CDS-PP), led by former minister Pedro Duarte.
Regarding Lisbon, the National Defense Minister explained on Thursday that “negotiations are ongoing,” as the current mayor, Carlos Moedas (PSD), has yet to confirm his candidacy.
Nuno Melo admitted to Lusa that this agreement is “very important given that it concerns Lisbon, where CDS is part of the executive and was crucial in the victory four years ago.”
“CDS-PP is a fully committed partner, has been loyal in this coalition, and as far as we are concerned, there is no reason for any issues, but an agreement, by definition, must be beneficial to both parties, and essentially that’s what is being worked on at the moment,” he asserted.
Regarding the six municipalities CDS-PP leads – Velas (Azores), Santana (Madeira), Ponte de Lima (Viana do Castelo), Vale de Cambra, Oliveira do Bairro, and Albergaria-a-Velha (Aveiro) – Nuno Melo stated the party “will continue presenting candidates on independent lists.”
