Latest news and stories about municipal politics in Portugal for expats and residents.
Socialists consider the debate proposed by Livre to analyse 'controversies' in Lisbon's governance to be 'wrong'. Moedas' coalition denounced an attempt to turn the Lisbon Municipal Assembly into an 'inquisition tribunal'.
At the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, the Livre party sought answers from the Mayor of Lisbon regarding controversies such as the appointment of Mafalda Livermore and the continued presence in the executive of a councillor accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office. However, right-wing parties accused them of a “personal attack” that does not “enhance” the municipal body. On the left, the PS also criticised the “side debate”.
Livre municipal deputies accuse the mayor of not being “transparent” or providing “clarifications” to the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, the body that oversees the City Council. The PSD regrets that the debate was accepted by André Moz Caldas and considers that the PS is doing “a disservice to Lisbon and to democracy.”
International Women's Day was used as a hook for some parties to hang their fixations on. Little by little, the indifference towards women became public and notorious.
Marco Almeida has appointed Pedro Magrinho, a former Chega candidate in legislative and local elections, as the head of the Sintra Municipal Police Division. In an official order, the Mayor of Sintra stated that the appointment is necessary to ensure the management and coordination of the division, noting that Magrinho meets the legal requirements and is a coordinating chief in the Public Security Police (PSP) personnel map. Magrinho, who previously served as a police officer and union leader, has faced controversy in the past regarding his political candidacies while serving in the police force. The appointment follows a broader expansion of municipal leadership roles in Sintra, which saw the creation of 29 new positions, including 17 new division head roles, approved by the ruling coalition.
The proposal, denied in a private meeting, followed the decision not to renew the contracts of TBA artistic director Francisco Frazão and Aljube Museum director Rita Rato.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged the mayor, Isaltino Morais (independent), with embezzlement and abuse of power, along with 22 other municipal officials and employees for embezzlement.
The Albufeira municipality states that the searches originated from a complaint by a municipal deputy elected by the PSD.
The author argues that culture and artistic creation must remain free from political interference and censorship. Criticising recent attempts by far-right municipal deputies in Lisbon to label and control cultural programming, the text calls for transparency in public funding and appointments to uphold democratic values and constitutional rights, warning against the dangers of political influence over the arts.
The Christmas lights scandal that sees four people still held in preventive custody (one of them among the most respected figures in Lisbon’s municipal hierarchy) “promises to draw in other The post Christmas lights scandal “likely to extend to other municipalities” appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The non-renewal of Francisco Frazão at the TBA and Rita Rato at the Aljube Museum is causing outrage in the sector. Frazão reveals to Expresso that he was only told the TBA would be occupied by São Luiz programming because the latter requires renovations. Creators and cultural officials admit to political motivations, following criticism from Chega-Lisbon regarding the TBA's programming. 'Our time has come,' says a municipal deputy from the party.
Social-democratic municipal deputy Américo Vitorino recalled that Alberto Laplaine Guimarães was not appointed by Moedas. The Mayor guaranteed that the municipality is in “full cooperation with the justice system”.
Opposition parties are calling for “transparency” and want to know the reasons behind the non-renewal of Rita Rato and Francisco Frazão. The PS questions whether this decision is a “quid pro quo” for Chega following public criticism made by a municipal deputy regarding the Teatro do Bairro Alto.
The Socialist Party (PS) has expressed concern over the 'opacity' within the Lisbon City Council regarding the drainage plan initiated during Fernando Medina's tenure. With project costs reportedly exceeding the initial 140 million euro budget by 20%—an increase of approximately 30 million—the PS is seeking clarification on public spending. While acknowledging the need for stability in projects beneficial to the city, Alexandra Leitão criticized Carlos Moedas for the lack of a clear completion timeline, noting that the project was originally expected to be finished by May 2025. Leitão further accused the current administration of maintaining a 'veil of opacity' across all municipal matters. The drainage project, which includes the construction of two major tunnels to mitigate flooding, was originally awarded in 2020 under the previous PS-led administration.
The party is calling for “greater transparency in the management of a large-scale public investment” and, during an extraordinary municipal meeting, is questioning the City Council regarding the additional amount spent.
The president of the Union of Parishes of Évora, Francisco Branco de Brito (PSD), is to be proposed as president of the National Association of Parishes (Anafre) at the congress taking place at the weekend, a source close to the process said today.
The case dates back to 2021, when the city council was still led by Fernando Medina. Also in this edition, António José Seguro promises to return to street campaigning following tomorrow's debate.
The councillor moved into the building that houses Moedas's administration and says she is 'available to serve the public'. She accuses Bruno Mascarenhas of preventing her from doing her job. Mascarenhas promises to reply after the elections.
Elad Dror reiterates that he never bribed the vice-president of Gaia City Council. Ruling in the 'Babel' operation read on 24 April.
Signatories express “concern and indignation” over the councillor's intervention at the plenary meeting of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, accusing her of “censoring the programming of a municipal theatre”.
The candidate backed by Chega received 33.02% of the vote.
In this municipality in Guarda, the candidate backed by the PS (Socialist Party) stands out, with 33.59% of the votes in this first round.
António Filipe closes his campaign in Loures, alongside supporters and confident of “a good result for his candidacy”
Several leading municipal councils are testing or reassessing the relationship between the Democratic Alliance (AD) and the right‑wing party Chega, prompting debate over local cooperation and political boundaries.
