“We suspect it will become clear that, contrary to what we asked the Prime Minister in a letter I wrote to him in August, what the Government and the PSD really want is to implement those tolls on the VCI [Internal Beltway] the PSD candidate for Porto talks about, rather than ending the tolls on the CREP [External Regional Beltway of Porto] to alleviate the VCI, a measure that is completely consensual in Porto,” Manuel Pizarro stated today to journalists.
Speaking in a pastry shop in Foz, where he had breakfast with his team, Pizarro was asked about Pedro Duarte’s remarks that his suggested tolls are for heavy vehicles, recommending that “perhaps it is better to hear everything the PSD candidate – the Government delegate – has already said about it.”
“In July, he talked about tolls for everyone. The chorus of protests was such that he now explains they are tolls for heavy vehicles. With us, it is already clear: we want the Government to eliminate the tolls on the CREP, we demand that the Government remove the tolls for circulating around Porto,” he emphasized.
The PS candidate noted that with the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) presented on Thursday, “the Prime Minister comes [today] to Porto once again to give a boost to the Government’s candidate for Porto City Council,” questioning “where in the State Budget is the measure that will allow the end of the tolls on the CREP,” also known as highway A41.
“We do not want any tolls on any VCI. That is nonsense that will only complicate life for those in Porto,” he stressed.
On immigration, a topic his opponent from the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition has accused Manuel Pizarro of not addressing, the PS candidate does not consider it “a central issue in the elections for Porto City Council.”
“We are obviously in favor of regulated immigration, of the proper integration of the people who seek us. Addressing this issue in Porto as a priority clearly shows that the PSD candidate knows nothing about what is happening in Porto. This topic is not a priority in Porto,” he observed.
The PS head candidate further noted that in his candidacy, “there is a spirit of change, with independent candidates, young people, people connected to academia, companies, Porto institutions,” and “a program that is realistic while ambitious.”
“On the other side, I only see irrelevant talk for Porto and the attempt to create divisions among Porto residents when we, on the contrary, should motivate the union of Porto residents,” defining “the difference between the candidacies,” he underlined.
For Manuel Pizarro, “on one side is a candidate with both feet in Porto, always dedicated to Porto, who loves his city,” and on the other “a Government delegate trying to take control of Porto.”
Candidates for Porto City Hall 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), the current vice-president 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 consists of a majority of six elected officials from Rui Moreira’s movement and one independent councilor, with the remaining being two elected from the PS, two from the PSD, one from the CDU, and one from the BE.
Municipal elections are set for Sunday.
