As he had already argued in the interview with DN, the current mayor of Lisbon highlighted that the elements on the list of the Por Ti, Lisboa coalition (PSD-CDS-Liberal Initiative) “are much better than the others”. At his side, in addition to his wife, Celine Abecassis-Moedas, he had, among other members of what he hopes to become his second city council executive, Gonçalo Reis, Joana Baptista and Maria Luísa Aldim, also counting on the presence of supporters such as the Minister of Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and the former liberal deputy Bernardo Blanco. More discreetly, in a rare presence at a public event, the former Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, brother of the person who could be the next vice-president of the municipality, appeared.
Contrary to what had happened hours before with Alexandra Leitão, who went down from Chiado to Rossio in the company of the PS secretary general, José Luís Carneiro; Livre’s co-spokespeople, Rui Tavares and Isabel Mendes Lopes; the coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda, Mariana Mortágua; and PAN spokesperson, Inês de Sousa Real; Moedas did not have any of the leaders of the parties that support him with him. And it also did not benefit from a mobilization of local structures as effective as that of the left-wing parties, totaling a few hundred fewer people than the close to two thousand who took to the streets with the Viver Lisboa coalitionwith the difference being that it is noticeable when you go down Rua do Carmo.
However, the former European Commissioner who four years ago produced the biggest surprise of the municipal night, by defeating Fernando Medina, interrupting a 14-year cycle of socialist governance, he compensated with his usual “secret weapon” of empathy and ease of contacting residents. Alongside the descent of Rua Garrett and Rua do Carmo, to the sound of a band playing music associated with the Portuguese capital, there were frequent stops to greet municipal workers, PSP agents, traders and elderly people.
The good disposition of the mayor who is seeking re-election was only tested when answering questions from journalists about the criticisms that have been made of his management of the accident that caused 15 deaths in the Elevador da Glória. “This politicization is so sad”, he considered, describing what he considers to be the opposition’s strategy as “shameful”.
After Luís Montenegro mentioned the advantages of having an absolute majority in Lisbon the day before, Moedas moved away from that standard. “I obviously hope for a better vote than four years ago. But what I want is one more vote to be president of the Chamber. By one vote you lose”, said those who accuse the left of mobilizing “for hate and what is negative”.