Luís Montenegro had lunch in Amares (Braga district) alongside Emanuel Magalhães, the candidate supported by PSD and CDS-PP, stating that his school renovation project in the municipality aligns “very well” with the Government’s plan for the country.
“Talking about school renovation is about enhancing the education sector program that we are, indeed, bringing to the school,” he said.
Montenegro then made a broader observation about the start of the school year.
“It’s great to be in October, at the beginning of October, a few weeks after the school year starts, and to feel that the schools are calm and in a stable environment,” he stated.
The Prime Minister also praised that teachers are “focused on imparting knowledge to the students, and the students are focused on acquiring the learning they need.”
In a brief speech before lunch, Montenegro conveyed to Emanuel Magalhães—who ran in Amares for the PS four years ago—that “he will count on the PSD and all those in the PSD exercising functions at the national level.”
“These days, many people question my participation in this campaign because I am both the president of the PSD and the Prime Minister,” he mentioned, addressing a topic previously raised by the media.
“Well, I am just one person, so there is no way I can be divided,” he justified.
On the same subject, Montenegro argued there are benefits to this dual role.
“The more information, proximity, and connection the president of the PSD has with the concrete reality, with local municipalities, the better results the actions of the PSD president exercising functions in the Government can yield,” he affirmed.
A professor by profession, Emanuel Magalhães is in his second consecutive term as an opposition councilor, currently as an independent, after previously being elected by the PS, during which he held the position of vice-president.
In 2017, Emanuel Magalhães founded MAIS—Movimento Amares Independente e Solidário, and that year he was elected councilor, trailing behind the PSD/CDS-PP coalition and the PS.
The Amares City Hall has been presided over by Manuel Moreira since 2013, who cannot run again as he has reached the three terms allowed by law.
Moreira was first elected in 2015 by the PS, without a majority, but after several disputes, the party withdrew its political support.
The mayor then allied with the PSD/CDS-PP coalition, through which he ran in 2017 and 2021, securing two victories with an absolute majority.
