“The level of demand in Viseu today is low, minimal services. The expectations are limited because the same people always win. It’s easy to do the least possible because they always win in the same way,” stated João Azevedo on Saturday night during the presentation of his candidacy, which included the presence of PS Secretary-General, Pedro Nuno Santos.
In front of more than 1,500 attendees in the room, João Azevedo mentioned that if he manages to win the council, that demand will “triple or quadruple” because all PS supporters will expect “significant work and dedication.”
“We may have few virtues, but there is one we possess: we work hard to prove our worth,” he emphasized.
The parliamentary deputy, who is running again after securing 38.26% of the votes (four seats) against the PSD’s 46.68% (five seats) in the 2021 municipal elections, assured that he would maintain an “open relationship” with all the parish council presidents and promote true territorial cohesion.
“The Local Finance Law in Viseu is poorly adhered to, as parish presidents are always seeking small amounts to invest in their communities. With us, it will not be like that,” the candidate assured, noting that, together with responsibilities, parish presidents will receive the financial envelope.
João Azevedo expressed confidence that, despite this being a “tough campaign,” many people who have never voted for PS will do so in the upcoming local elections.
On Saturday night, candidates for the 25 parish councils were introduced, including cyclist Nuno Bico for Viseu. Other team members were also announced, such as Ricardo Almeida Henriques, the son of the late former Viseu city mayor, António Almeida Henriques (PSD).
“You must have courage to be here. But more than representing your family name, you have your identity, and certainly, you will greatly help us create a strong electoral program,” João Azevedo told him.
The socialist councilor criticized the executive in various areas, including housing, transportation, urban planning, tourism, water supply, and civil protection.
João Azevedo referred to the plan from the previous municipal executive to create an alternative national civil protection center at the Viseu aerodrome, under the supervision of then-Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro.
“Everything was written. But the fact is that both the civil protection and security complex to be placed at the aerodrome, and the capacitation of the aerodrome to leverage more and better territory, were shelved because it was an idea and a project of Almeida Henriques and the PS Government,” he lamented.
The 50-year-old socialist candidate was a mayor in Mangualde from 2009 and left the position mid-term in 2019 to become a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic.
Fernando Ruas, president of the Viseu Chamber for 24 years (from 1989 to 2013), was chosen by the PSD following the death of Almeida Henriques, who had already been nominated as a re-candidate by the party.
