After a meeting with the government in Parliament to set the date for the upcoming local elections, PSD’s parliamentary leader, Hugo Soares, stated that the Social Democrats advocate for elections to be held on October 12. This timing would allow for a “clear campaign among voters” and provide time to formalize necessary “administrative and bureaucratic processes.”
Representative Pedro Delgado Alves from PS argued during this meeting that elections should take place on September 28, maintaining the tradition, as he explained, of conducting local elections “tendentially at the end of September.”
The socialist said there was no reason for elections not to be held at the end of September, adding that this way “executives can be installed during the month of October, as is customary.”
Chega’s parliamentary leader, Pedro Pinto, initially proposed October 5 or 12 for the local elections. However, he noted that the overlap of the first date with the Republic Day holiday makes October 12 preferable, so as not to disrupt holiday ceremonies.
The Communist Party (PCP), represented by deputies Paula Santos and Alfredo Maia, advocated, in the government’s first meeting this morning, for the upcoming local elections to occur on October 12, as it would “allow for greater citizen participation” in this electoral act.
Isabel Mendes Lopes, parliamentary leader of Livre, said that the party proposed to the government that elections be held on October 12, arguing that it is necessary to give parties and citizens’ movements time to organize their candidacies and present lists.
The Left Bloc (BE), which could not meet with the government today due to scheduling conflicts, informed the executive in writing that it prefers local elections to be held on October 5, a party official told Lusa.
The government, represented by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos Abreu Amorim, and the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Territorial Planning, Silvério Regalado, is meeting today with parliamentary groups in the Assembly of the Republic to decide on the date for the local elections.
According to the local electoral law, these elections are held between September 22 and October 14 on a Sunday, which practically leaves only three possible dates: September 28, October 5 (Republic Day holiday), and October 12.
