New Left-Wing Coalition in Almada Pledges to Tackle Housing Crisis in Municipal Elections
The Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and Livre parties have officially announced the formation of a new political coalition, “Almada em Comum,” to contest the upcoming municipal elections in Almada on October 12, 2025. In a formal statement, the coalition described its platform as an “alternative, progressive, and ecological” candidacy, aiming to address what it terms the failures of the current municipal government. The alliance will field candidates for all local government bodies, including the City Council and Parish Assemblies, and will also feature independent candidates to broaden its appeal.
The coalition’s founding announcement directly criticizes the incumbent PS/PSD executive, which has governed Almada since 2017. The statement accuses the administration of having “failed to respond to social, territorial, and population challenges and surrendered to real estate speculation, the degradation of public services, and office politics.” The collapse of the previous governing agreement, which occurred when the PSD voted against the 2025 Municipal Budget, is cited as a key catalyst for this new political convergence on the left.
The primary policy objective outlined by “Almada em Comum” is to address the housing crisis. The coalition’s manifesto states, “Housing is our cause, with proposals to combat real estate speculation, uncontrolled tourism, the increase in house prices and rents, and the gentrification of our municipality.” This focus on housing is part of a broader agenda that includes promoting a socially just local economy, improving mobility, and championing environmental sustainability. The program aims to present a clear alternative to what it calls the “empty promises” of the established parties and the “threat of the far-right’s growth.”
The coalition intends to present a unified electoral program developed with public participation. This program will build on the “legacy and experience of the left's municipal work in Almada,” while introducing new progressive ideas and participatory democratic models. Key priorities will be housing, ecology, mobility, and sustainable local economic development. Other guiding principles include human rights, transparency, and support for local culture and associativism. The coalition aims to foster a municipality that is not merely a “dormitory-city” for Lisbon but a thriving community with robust public services and a strong cooperative spirit.
Political observers note that this alliance could significantly alter the political dynamics in Almada, a municipality of strategic importance within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. A spokesperson for the coalition stated, “We have a duty to join forces and open dialogues to expand the progressive political space... and build a demanding and transformative left-wing candidacy.” The success of this coalition could have implications for housing and development policies across the region, potentially introducing new regulatory frameworks aimed at controlling real estate speculation.
The candidates leading the charge for “Almada em Comum” for the City Council are Sérgio Lourosa Alves, a history teacher and singer representing Livre, and Sandra Cunha, a sociologist and former member of the national parliament for BE. The slate of candidates for other municipal bodies includes a diverse mix of professionals, academics, and community activists, such as Jefferson Oliveira for the Municipal Assembly and Martim de Freitas for the Almada parish assembly. The coalition confirmed that Eduardo Raposo, previously announced as a presidential candidate for the council, has withdrawn for personal reasons. The formation of “Almada em Comum” sets the stage for a highly contested election, with housing policy positioned as the central issue for voters.
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