Statue of D. Afonso Henriques, in Guimarães
The PS won the elections for the Chamber of Bragança, ending 28 years of leadership of the PSD, and of Viseu, which for years bore the nickname “cavaquistão”. The Social Democrats won a historic victory in Guimarães, whose chamber was presided over by the PS for 36 years.
The socialist candidate, Isabel Ferreirawas elected president of the Bragança Municipal Council, which the PSD had led since 1997. The PS list obtained 47.50% of the votesagainst 45.82% for the PSD. Each of the political formations elected a councilor.
In a statement sent to Lusa, the PSD candidate and current mayor, Paulo Xavierwho was recently at the center of a feat in 17 days with 19 values, said accept with “serenity and respect” the vote of the brigantines.
“I have the clear conscience of someone who has always given their best, with honesty, commitment and a sense of public service. Every work done, every improvement achieved, every project completed, has always had a single objective: the well-being of people and the development of our municipality”, said Paulo Xavier.
“I leave with the feeling of duty accomplishedbut also with the certainty that much more is about to happen. I leave countless projects prepared — some already with guaranteed financing, others ready for application”, he added.
In the last local elections, the social democratic candidate had been elected with 61.97% of the votes.
Viseu fell to PS
The Socialist Party won the Viseu City Council, which since the first elections after the 25th of April was led by either the CDS or the PSD. The historic president Fernando Ruaswho was trying to return to the presidency of the Chamber, lost the district capital to the PS.
The PS list, led by João Azevedo, obtained 42.08% of the voteswith 2 councilors elected, as many as those on the PSD list, which obtained 41.90% of the votes.
“People had to be deserted. We presented ourselves to the electorate in a different way, and people believed that”, said the new president of the municipality after confirming his victory.
PSD conquers Guimarães with an absolute majority
The Juntos por Guimarães (PSD/CDS-PP) coalition won the local elections today, taking power away from the PS which governed for the last 36 yearswith the leader of the list for the coalition, Ricardo Araújoclassifying the victory as “historic”.
“It’s a historic victory. The people of Guimarães wanted to change, they gave a clear signal and this victory is significant. We still don’t exactly know the final results, but it is a great victory for the Juntos por Guimarães coalition, after the PS governed for 36 years”, said Ricardo Araújo, speaking to the Lusa agency.
At 23:00, according to the PSD/CDS-PP candidate, two parishes still needed to be closed, which will have no influence on the coalition’s victorywith the possibility of winning with an absolute majority.
“We can still have an absolute majorityit is difficult, but it is possible”, said the deputy in the Assembly of the Republic. A few minutes later, the absolute majority for the coalition, with 45.33% of the voteswhich elected 6 of the 11 mandates in dispute.
The Socialist Party, which until now governed the Guimarães municipality, came in second place, with 37.50% of the votes and 4 mandates. In third place, Chega obtained 8.06%, having won 1 mandate.
