In remarks to the National Political Commission of the Socialist Party (PS) on Monday night, José Luís Carneiro highlighted the outcomes of Sunday’s local elections. The PS lost its status as the leading local political force and also ceded leadership of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP).
The PS leader emphasized that the party remains “the only solid and robust political alternative to the AD” and celebrated gaining control of five district capitals: Bragança, Viseu, Coimbra, Évora, and Faro. This has allowed the PS to hold half of the district capitals.
Carneiro noted that the PS maintained its “municipal presence” and captured “33.7% of the votes”, trailing the PSD by less than a percentage point.
Defying predictions of “significant electoral erosion” which could have resulted in the loss of 80 municipalities, according to a study cited by Expresso, Carneiro stated that Sunday’s results “confirm a recovery scenario for the PS”.
Additionally, Carneiro argued that PS’s victory in the majority of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area municipalities was noteworthy.
He further highlighted that the PS won nine municipalities from the PSD, seven from the PCP, and two from independent groups.
The PS lost control of Lisbon and Porto, as well as Sintra and Vila Nova de Gaia, two of the largest municipalities.
Significant losses also included three strongholds held by the PS since 1976: Condeixa-a-Nova, Lourinhã, and Torres Vedras.
