The CDS-PP is moving forward for the local elections, mainly allied with the PSD in most of its candidacies but also competing independently in dozens of municipalities.
In the initial version of the national tour program released by the party, which also mentions the Minister of National Defense, a focus is placed on areas where the party runs alone or leads the coalition candidacy.
An official party source informed Lusa agency that Nuno Melo will join PSD leader and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro at a dinner/rally on October 8 in Santarém, where João Leite is running for AD.
The same source indicated the possibility of further joint campaign events featuring both leaders in areas where the parties are collaborating.
Over the next two weeks, Nuno Melo will visit the six municipalities currently governed by the party, which they aim to retain, including Velas (Azores), Santana (Madeira), Ponte de Lima (Viana do Castelo), Vale de Cambra, Oliveira do Bairro, and Albergaria-a-Velha (Aveiro).
The CDS-PP president kicks off the national tour on Monday, prior to the official campaign start, in Vila Franca de Xira, where the candidacy is led by the party’s parliamentary leader, Paulo Núncio.
On the same day, the Christian Democrat leader proceeds to Almada, where the party’s candidate is Vice-President Ana Clara Birrento.
Actions for Tuesday, the official campaign start, have not yet been announced, but on Wednesday he will be in Sintra, where centrist Maurício Rodrigues runs with the support of PPM and ADN.
On October 4, Nuno Melo will be in Viseu, where former deputy Hélder Amaral challenges the social-democratic mayor Fernando Ruas.
In the first week of the campaign, the CDS-PP leader will also visit Mondim de Basto, Leiria, Covilhã, Vieira do Minho, Vila Verde, Oliveira do Hospital, and Meda.
The second week will include visits to Torre de Moncorvo, Vagos, Montemor-o-Novo, and Sever do Vouga.
The schedule shared on Thursday does not include visits to Lisbon or Porto, where the CDS-PP runs in coalition with PSD and IL, supporting Carlos Moedas in the capital and Pedro Duarte in Porto.
The campaign will conclude in the Azores.
For the October 12 local elections, Nuno Melo plans to engage in activities involving public interaction, walks through towns, visits to fairs and markets, and rallies.
