Paulo Raimundo made these accusations during a speech at a campaign dinner in Santiago do Cacém, a municipality historically managed by PCP-led coalitions since 1976, where in this local election, PS, PSD, IL, and CDS-PP united to support the independent candidacy of Bruno Pereira.
Addressing hundreds of CDU supporters, Paulo Raimundo argued that Bruno Pereira’s candidacy, despite claiming independence, is essentially a list representing PS, PSD, CDS, and IL. “In fact, to be precise, it’s a list representing parts of PS, parts of PSD, parts of CDS, and parts of IL. And those party parts, those who struck the deal, what they really want, as we well know, is to remove the population from the management of their municipality,” he stated.
For Paulo Raimundo, “they aim to distance workers, residents, and the youth from charting the future of their land.” He stressed, “This part of PS, PSD, CDS, and IL struck this deal, sealed at the highest level, which remained hidden and camouflaged but is now out in the open. They’ve united to serve speculative interests, to facilitate certain deals.”
The PCP secretary-general maintained that “what these local elections reveal is that there are those who wish, with a lot of money, many means, and various instruments, to seize this territory.” “There are those who want to take control of the Alentejo coast,” he warned.
However, the PCP leader expressed confidence that the people of the Alentejo coast “will do what they have always done, defend their land, their coast,” and demonstrate that the territory “belongs to everyone, not just a few.”
“Just as in the past, this part of PS, PSD, CDS, and IL will have to be confronted, and they will be confronted with the reality. The reality of a people who, here in Santiago do Cacém, if there’s one thing they don’t do, is fall for these tales,” he remarked.
Paulo Raimundo suggested that, as PS, PSD, CDS, and IL are unable “to challenge anything” in CDU’s municipal management in Santiago, they resort to “doing what those who can’t say anything always do: resorting to lies, illusions, and slander.”
He elaborated on why he believes the coalition is only composed of “parts of PS, part of PSD, part of CDS, and part of IL.” “Because there are many voters from these parties, many militants of these parties who also do not buy into this tale, who are not in agreement with this scheme, who are not willing to follow this ongoing process in Santiago do Cacém,” he mentioned.
The PCP leader expressed conviction that, “faced with attempts at illusion, faced with this declared scheme,” these supporters from other parties “will support, give strength, and vote for work, honesty, and competence,” referring to the CDU.
The CDU candidate is Vítor Proença, who was the president of this municipality from 2001 to 2013 and led the Alcácer do Sal City Council from 2013 to 2025.
In a speech during this rally, Vítor Proença emphasized that Bruno Pereira himself acknowledged that his “candidacy was simultaneously approved by Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos,” voicing a critique of the socialists.
“To the socialists, it’s worth pointing out: I begin to think it’s like those stores that start total liquidation sales. At this rate, my God… the socialists need to respond to this, not me,” he said.
