“I am running out of conviction and love for Arruda dos Vinhos, without any partisan interests,” stated independent candidate Rute Miriam dos Santos, five days ahead of the rally to present the lists for the Municipal Assembly and Council, whose names have yet to be revealed.
The candidate emphasized, “Arruda needs a new leadership that is closer, more transparent, and more focused on people and their real needs.”
The coalition’s three parties each identified this same need and recognized in themselves the ability to address this challenge, choosing “someone with experience, proximity, and leadership capacity to build real solutions for the problems of Arruda dos Vinhos,” in the district of Lisbon.
The political project presented as an “alternative for change in the municipality” aims to “restore the confidence of Arruda’s residents in the local government by focusing on rigor, transparency, and proximity for the municipality.”
The lead candidate set the primary goal to “win the local elections to implement a new form of governance that is transparent, participative, and results-oriented.”
If elected, she pledges to “bridge the gap between elected officials and citizens by listening to them, involving them in decision-making, and working hand in hand to build a fairer, more united, and more prosperous municipality.”
The priorities of the candidacy “reflect the real needs of the municipality” and include strengthening the GNR’s resources for closer and more regular patrolling, improving basic water and sanitation infrastructure, focusing on the refurbishment of the municipal pavilion, and facilitating mobility between parishes.
Rute Miriam dos Santos, 46, holds a degree in sociology and works in the Criminal Investigation Department of the PSP.
From 2013 to 2023, she was a full-time councilwoman at the same municipal council, elected by the PS, where she managed areas such as education, civil protection, health, culture, and social action, resigning her post for professional reasons in 2023.
Until 2021, she served as vice-president of the council and was number three on the PS list led by André Rijo, who passed the vice-presidency to Carlos Alves in the current municipal term.
Besides Rute Miriam, Carlos Alves (PS) and Paula Salema (Chega) are also running for the presidency of Arruda dos Vinhos Council.
The socialist is running for the first time as head of the list, after assuming the council presidency in 2024 following the resignation of André Rijo, who was elected as a PS deputy in the last legislative elections.
André Rijo cannot run again for the council due to having reached the term limit.
Since the last local elections, the municipal executive is composed of five PS elected members and two from the PSD.
The local elections are expected to occur between September and October.
