Miguel A. Lopes / EPA
José Luís Carneiro elected general secretary of the PS
134 Municipal Chambers for coalitions led by PSD, 130 for the PS. Socialists lose National Association of Municipalities.
The general secretary of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, argued today that “the PS is back as a great political alternative party to the Government” and “showed vitality”, admitting that it will win fewer chambers than the AD.
José Luís Carneiro was speaking to journalists at Largo do Rato, in Lisbon, with the president of the PS, Carlos César, next to him on the stage, where a new message “People of Trust” can be read.
“The PS returned as a great political alternative party to the Government. The PS showed vitality and returned and the Portuguese once again trusted the PS”, he said, although admitting that the party managed to “around 130 and the AD will reach 134 chambers”, thus losing the leadership of the National Assembly of Portuguese Municipalities. It was a “one-on-one defeat” with AD.
Carneiro highlighted, for example, the Algarve region, where Chega’s growth was predicted due to André Ventura’s victories in the legislature. But the PS dominates the Municipal Chambers in the district of Faro (11), with only one Chamber for Chega (Albufeira).
The PS leader felt “joy and satisfaction” when he saw the PS winning in five district capitals – equaling PSD and CDS together.
It also highlights the victory in the Algarve, where there were “deep concerns about the growth of the extreme right”: this Sunday, however, the socialists won 11 local authorities, while the AD secured two and Chega only one. José Luís Carneiro thus highlights the “hegemonic victory” of the socialists in this region.
“Chega was relegated to fifth place, behind the CDU and the CDS itself”, he says.
