Contacted today, Rui Cardoso expressed his satisfaction at being chosen by Chega as the candidate for the Viana do Alentejo City Council, emphasizing that his maternal family has roots in this Alentejo town.
“I was very pleased as it allows me to serve a land that has welcomed me since childhood and people who know and are accustomed to seeing me,” he remarked, highlighting the “very affectionate and close connection” he has with the region.
Holding a degree in History from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon and currently pursuing a master’s in Teaching and Didactics of History, the 22-year-old Rui Cardoso is presently an advisor to Chega’s parliamentary group in the area of Education.
Residing in Lisbon, the candidate confessed that he has always wanted to move to the interior of the country, hoping that with this local election candidacy, “that day might come sooner rather than later.”
“The interior of the country is also home to the youth, and if there are incentives to create businesses and companies, population retention is possible,” he emphasized.
Promising to do everything possible “to improve the lives of the people” and turn Viana do Alentejo into “a hub for business, commerce, and tourism,” Rui Cardoso highlighted several potential attractions of the area, mentioning the castle, the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora d’Aires, and in Alcáçovas, the Paço dos Henriques.
The candidate prioritizes health, mobility, and housing, indicating plans to “coordinate solutions” between local and national entities.
Rui Cardoso is the second candidate announced for the Viana do Alentejo City Council, following the current president of the municipality, Luís Miguel Duarte, who was elected by the CDU and has declared his candidacy for re-election for a second term with the same coalition.
The current municipal executive consists of two members from the CDU, two from the PS, and one from the PSD.
The next local elections are expected to take place in September or October of this year.
