“There is one thing I must assure you: this is our path. It is the path we must follow in the coming years in Viseu, and it is with this path that we will win the elections,” declared João Azevedo at the conclusion of several speeches.
On the night the socialists presented their electoral program at a hotel in the city, Marta Rodrigues, part of João Azevedo’s team, who held one of the four PS opposition seats in the last term, introduced the document’s origin.
She mentioned that it was “developed by a team,” based on “the voices of people from all parishes,” and planned for a “12-year timeline because it involves continuity, planning, and management,” and is “feasible, measurable, and transformative,” covering 16 areas of intervention.
These areas include health; education; housing; employment and competitiveness; social action; mobility; tourism and historical center; culture and heritage; sports, also encompassing training and inclusion; energy efficiency; digital transformation; agriculture and forestry; security and civil protection, as well as urban planning.
Throughout the evening, each member of the team detailed the specific ideas to be realized in each of the 16 areas during the desired mandates.
In his final speech, João Azevedo expressed his readiness, following victory, to face citizen scrutiny and assessment concerning today’s promises in four years.
“I will do everything with our team to increase the electoral ‘score,’ meaning we fulfilled our promises and did well by the municipality and the people of Viseu,” he stated.
This followed announcements of proposals in urban planning and the municipal master plan (PDM), which he believes “needs urgent revision” and housing “of first rights that is urgent and should already be available,” along with security improvements with an “increase in municipal police.”
For half an hour, João Azevedo highlighted his main ideas, especially in sports, which is also his academic background, promising a “large inclusive sports city” near Fontelo, with “more swimming pools, tennis courts,” and a sports charter for Viseu, “which it lacks.”
In addition to João Azevedo, the current mayor of Viseu, Fernando Ruas (PSD), is also running for a second and final term (having led the municipality from 1989 to 2013).
The other candidates for the October 12 elections are Bernardo Pessanha (Chega), Hélio Marta (IL), Hélder Amaral (CDS-PP), Leonel Ferreira (CDU), and Paulo Quintão (ADN).
In 2021, the PSD garnered 46.68% of the votes (five mandates); the PS 38.26% (four mandates). Chega emerged as the third most voted party with 2.95%, and IL the fourth with 2.20%, while CDU was the last political force with 1.17% of the electorate. That year, there were 92,444 registered voters, and 52,189 people voted.
