Political expert Maria Antónia Almeida has highlighted voter confidence in local government officials who have served three terms but return after a four-year hiatus or switch municipalities. “It shows that the reasons behind the law preventing these individuals from running again are not valued by voters, who continue to trust their work,” she stated.
Almeida, a researcher at the University of Minho’s Center for Political Science Research, emphasized that “each municipality has its own characteristics,” with voters prioritizing the candidate’s performance record. In the recent local elections, Almeida noted, 21 “municipal dinosaurs” secured victories—these are leaders who previously completed more than three terms and returned either to the same or neighboring municipalities after a break.
The term limitation law, enacted in 2005 and enforced since 2013, mandates a break after three consecutive terms in the same office but allows candidacies in other municipalities. However, Almeida stressed the need for generational and political renewal, encouraging greater youth participation and the appreciation of local civic associations.
“We hope that young people will vote more and choose younger candidates. This is desirable given the recent decline in electoral participation and rising discontent. I would truly appreciate seeing more participation from those up to 50 years old in upcoming elections in Portugal,” she remarked.
Almeida’s book, ‘Autarcas de Longo Curso – Dinossauros Autárquicos’, was presented at the Temple of Poetry auditorium in Oeiras, an event organized by the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM). The book chronicles a generation of local leaders, serving from 1976 to 2013, including Francisco Soares Mesquita Machado, who led Braga for 37 years, and Jaime Carlos Marta Soares, who headed Vila Nova de Poiares for a similar duration.
Maria Antónia de Figueiredo Pires de Almeida has been with the Center for Political Science Research at the University of Minho since 2023. Previously, she was an integrated researcher at ISCTE-IUL, where she also served as a guest assistant professor. She is the author of 14 books, numerous articles in international scientific journals, and book chapters.
Almeida is also responsible for multiple databases and biographies, regularly participates in international conferences, and has been a guest researcher at Martin-Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg and the Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Chile.
