The Porto Primeiro party expressed deep concern over the depopulation of Porto residents in the historical center. “More than the stones, it is the people who are the living stones, the soul of the city. (…) This is also part of the World Heritage,” highlighted the statement.
The former mayor, in office from 1999 to 2002, spoke during a campaign event on the streets of Cedofeita, which began near the Clérigos Tower, criticizing the dominance of tourism in a zone that has lost its character.
Aiming to “mobilize the whole society” to keep Porto residents in their homes, the party plans to create an incubator for citizen cooperatives, offering “training for people to learn how to manage a cooperative and technical support in project development and the financial area.”
Additionally, the city hall will seek “a plot of land or a building where each group of citizens can develop their dream house,” drawing inspiration from ‘co-housing’ projects like La Borda in Barcelona, Spain.
This initiative, besides addressing housing shortages in the city, will help “create community and foster a community spirit,” affirming that “it seems there are no lands in the historical center, but there are plenty.”
The party proposes that the municipality should have “the right of preference in all sales in the historical center,” assuring that this measure will “end real estate speculation” in that parish.
Criticizing the excessive occupation of properties oriented towards tourism, another proposal includes setting a deadline for vacant buildings to be refurbished, under the risk of compulsory action or expropriation by the city hall.
“We will use all tools. Our objective is to motivate property owners to take action, to become partners with them,” he stated.
If he were a tourist visiting the city, he mentioned, “I would not like it.”
“The public space is neglected, excessively occupied by chairs and tables. In Ribeira, it’s a real calamity,” he critiqued.
Candidates for the Porto City Council include Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU – PCP/PEV coalition), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro – NC/PPM coalition), Pedro Duarte (PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition), Sérgio Aires (BE), current deputy mayor Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto – independent), Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Volt), Hélder Sousa (Livre), Miguel Corte-Real (Chega), Frederico Duarte Carvalho (ADN), Maria Amélia Costa (PTP), and Luís Tinoco Azevedo (PLS).
The current executive is formed by a majority of six elected members from Rui Moreira’s movement and one independent councilor, with the remaining two elected from PS, two from PSD, one from CDU, and one from BE.
The municipal elections are set for October 12.
