Paulo Raimundo addressed a gathering in one of the squares of Alpiarça, a town historically governed by PCP-led coalitions since 1976, but taken by the PS in the 2021 local elections.
Before an audience of hundreds, many standing due to the lack of seating, the secretary-general of the PCP urged the residents to “take back the destiny of this extraordinary place that is Alpiarça.”
“Seize the necessary work, give the needed responses, and empower the workers and communities to manage the municipality in their interest,” he stated.
Raimundo emphasized that on the upcoming Sunday, the town’s inhabitants should “vote based on individual interests, not the interests of a few who seek to exploit this place through deals and speculation,” implicitly criticizing the PS.
“Consider the differences in approach, substance, goals, and the rights of children, seniors, and the underprivileged, as well as the solutions for people’s lives. Vote with experience, comparison, and personal lives,” he continued.
He asserted that the CDU (PCP/PEV) is the sole political force capable of initiating the necessary change for Alpiarça, arguing that the town must “resume the interrupted path, a path it urgently needs.”
Raimundo promised, “In Alpiarça, the CDU will return, prioritizing housing and engagement, encouraging local actions for the defense of CTT, and safeguarding what is being taken from this community.”
He continued, “The CDU will restore community involvement, support for organizations, as well as culture, cleanliness, and quality of life.”
“A key point for today is to renew hope for this land and for each individual’s life in ways the local administration can fulfill,” he added.
Prior to Raimundo, Mário Pereira, the CDU’s candidate for the Alpiarça Municipal Chamber, who served as the town’s president from 2009 to 2021, spoke.
Pereira outlined the CDU’s electoral program for the area, which includes building new affordable housing and an Alpiarça environmental park.
He then criticized the PS, noting that their 2021 electoral program remained largely unfulfilled and that their current one hasn’t been presented yet.
“With just three days left in the electoral campaign, the PS hasn’t presented [the electoral program]. To our knowledge, the PS has no electoral program, perhaps because the last one was almost entirely unmet,” he remarked, with Raimundo quipping behind that if left unfulfilled, it “remains current.”
