Carlos Moedas was re-elected president of Lisbon City Council, becoming the first militant affiliated with the PSD to manage to revalidate the coronation in the capital. Only in the 80s, Kruz Abecassis won for the Social Democrats, but being centrist and the CDS-PP the first force in the coalition.
The first projections pointed to a tight fight in Lisbon, the delegations of Carlos Moedas and Alexandra Leitão prepared for a long night, but from battle to battle confidence only grew on one side, for the incumbent who is resisting the Elevador da Glória tragedy and who, armed with CDS-PP and Liberal Initiative, fought the PS’s association with Livre, Bloco de Esquerda and PAN.
If in 2021, there were 2294 votes difference between the president and re-candidate Moedas and Fernando Medina, four years later the future of Lisbon was seen trapped by a short make-up, but which, at midnight, was already impossible to turn around. At 3:05 am, the last parish, Lumiar, was determined, with a result of 41.69%, against 33.95%. Around 8% separate the two political forces when, at the beginning of the night, a possible technical draw was expected.
In the headquarters, each parish council guarantee was celebrated. The socialists celebrated with São Vicente and Alcântara before 9 pm, but the first blows began to be struck by the Por Ti, Lisboa, coalition. achieving Campo de Ourique and Campolide, both socialist in 2021: the first had been decided by 26 votes in 2021 and even Moedas had received more votes for the Chamber, but with Pedro Costa’s departure mid-term the PSD capitalized to gain the parish. Nearby, in Campolide, after four socialist mandates, Por Ti, Lisbon won, with the curiosity of being the first parish governed by a liberal, in this case José Miguel Cerdeira.
The party, growing, only for the Social Democrats. With the news that Livre was unable to undo its hegemony in Areeiro, Alvalade and Avenidas Novas, the Por Ti, Lisboa coalition gained confidence that it would actually keep the capital.
In the socialist stronghold, people didn’t drink vodka with orange, but rather gin and tonic to ease their discouragement. João Jaime Pires, independent who headed the left-wing coalition, advanced to the PS’s greatest achievement over the opposition: Arroios.
Of the nine parishes where huge battles were predicted, only in this and Marvila were the most votes for the socialists, which was impactful for the final accounts, because among the most populous, only Benfica made Alexandra Leitão dream.
Estrela, Belém, Parque das Nações would be Moedas territories, the socialists would have to wait for a fierce blowback in Benfica, Olivais, Lumiar and São Domingos de Benfica, which made Alexandra Leitão wait for the admission of defeat. Scheduled for 11:30 pm, it ended up happening after 00:30. But it was in Lumiar, the last parish to close, and in São Domingos that Moedas’ victory was confirmed.
From then on, real roars of victory from the delegation, which went from ten to 11 parishes, against 12 for the PS, and more than 20,000 votes ahead to celebrate. Campolide and Campo de Ourique turned right, Arroios turned left.
Moedas has eight councilors, which gives it greater governability. “Another 30,000 votes, it’s absolutely extraordinary. Now we’re going to do it, Lisbon is on the right path”, he stated, placing the blame on his opponents as well. “The people of Lisbon were clear that they do not want instability,” he said, rejecting scenarios of negotiation with Chega for a majority: “A City Council does not have post-electoral coalitions.”
The mayor called on the opposition to “put Lisbon’s interests above all else”, something that he stated did not happen in this first term. “I’ve had four very difficult years. These four years won’t be so difficult, because I have 30 thousand more votes, I have one more councilor, that gives me enormous confidence”, he said, with complaints, despite the PS having made budgets and the main proposals for the city available.
In a campaign headquarters that was completely packed with supporters, the mayor highlighted his good relationship with Luís Montenegro, who preferred to attend the election night in Porto, ruling out divisions: “I have his full support. He is a man who, above all, is a close friend. It’s as if he were here.”
Carlos Moedas hands over two council positions to the Liberal Initiative and CDS-PP. The re-elected mayor only spoke at around 2 am. Alexandra Leitão conceded defeat at 00:30. “I’m here to accept the defeat in the Autárquicas, I wished Carlos Moedas and Now I will be rigorous and firm opposition.”promised Alexandra Leitão, flanked on stage by Rui Tavares and Mariana Mortágua, Livre’s spokesperson and coordinator of the Bloco. “It was a convergence that I don’t regret having made. All things that are guided by public service are always worth it. That’s why this path was worth it in itself. I’ve said it before”, he declared, highlighting the “courage of Livre, Bloco and PAN” for the coalition. Livre will have a councilor, and Bloco too, given sixth place on the list.
It was head to head for third place, which was only closed with the last parish. The CDU had a 500 vote lead at 00:30 and, like Chega, exceeded 10%. João Ferreira and Ana Jara would be elected again, but with the most populous parishes, Chega managed to overtake them… by 11 votes.
Chega enters the Lisbon Executive for the first time, with two mandates, which could influence governance on the right. Naturally, socialists blame the dispersion of votes in the CDU as largely responsible for the electoral defeat, looking at the narrow margin. João Ferreira maintains his council seat, but the CDU loses a mandate.
In the remaining candidates for the Lisbon City Council, the acronym chosen by the PPM and MPT, called Democrática Aliança, could dictate some type of increase in votes for Tomás Dentinho, but confusion among the electorate in the manner of what had happened with the AD in 2024, to the benefit of the ADN, did not occur. Neither the PPM nor the Nova Direita, with Ossanda Liber, the ADN, with Adelaide Ferreira, the Volt, with José Almeida, and the RIR, with Luís Mendes, garnered more than 0.5% of the vote each.
For the Municipal Assembly, Margarida Mano, from Por Ti, Lisbon, is elected with 39.85%, against 32.86%.
Parishes for the Por Ti coalition, Lisbon: 11
AREIRO 48.86%
Avenidas Novas 50.25%
Alvalade 46.31%
Belém 57.63%
Campo de Ourique 41.24%
Campolide 39.53%
Star 53.47%
Lumiar 46.06%
Parque das Nações 49.84%
São Domingos de Benfica 46.24%
Santo António 49.38%
Parishes for the Viver Lisboa coalition: 12
Help 46.56%
Alcantara 47.99%
Arroios 42.34%
Blessed 38.16%
Benfica 54,45%
Marvila 38.22%
Mercy 38.29%
Olive groves 29.16%
Penha de França 39.56%
Santa Clara 32.41%
Santa Maria Maior 40.95%
São Vicente 40.33%
Parish for the CDU coalition: 1
Carnide 41.65%