The vice-president of Porto City Council, Filipe Araújo
Rui Moreira’s independent movement left the door open for Filipe Araújo to run for mayor, which is causing a conflict with the PSD and CDS, which prefer Pedro Duarte.
The political scenario in Porto is in turmoil as the 2025 local elections approach. The independent movement created by Rui Moreira and the right-wing parties, PSD and CDS, face a split that could compromise their ability to form a united front against the socialist Manuel Pizarro, PS candidate for Porto City Council.
The weekend revealed the outcome of months of tension between Rui Moreira’s allies and right-wing parties. A statement from the independent movement reaffirmed the intention to launch an independent candidacywhich will likely be led by Filipe Araújocurrent vice-president of the Chamber.
While Filipe Araújo’s supporters defend the continuity of independent leadership, CDS and PSD are betting on a coalition led by Pedro Duartecurrent Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. However, the uncertainty regarding Duarte’s candidacy and the PSD’s apparent lack of interest in dialoguing with the independent movement aggravate tensions.
The advancement of Pedro Duarte’s candidacy also depends on the CDS leaving the independent movement in order to join the PSD. According to , the fact that the CDS was associated with the statement about Filipe Araújo’s candidacy took Nuno Melo and Luís Montenegro by surprise and left the angry centrist presidentforcing centrists to disassociate themselves.
The movement also criticizes “arrogant and suicidal stance” by PSD leaders, who will have ignored attempts to reach a solution similar to the one achieved in Coimbra, in which the independent José Manuel Silva led a candidacy of a coalition of PSD and CDS.
Internally, the independent movement also faces challenges. THE departure of influential figureslike councilors Fernando Paulo and Ricardo Valente, weakens cohesion and raises doubts about the viability of an independent candidacy.
There are still members of the movement who doubt Filipe Araújo’s ability to win. “He is possibly the most loyal, most serious, most reliable and technically best prepared element. But this doesn’t always arrive to win elections”, a movement source told the Observador. Even Rui Moreira has not yet officially commented on supporting Filipe Araújo to succeed him.
With the right fragmented and a strengthened PS, Porto’s political future appears uncertain. If PSD and CDS are unable to align a coherent strategy, they face the risk of prolonging the absence of power in the municipality and losing space to the socialist candidacy.
