Carlos Moedas Unveils 15-Point Program for Lisbon Re-Election, Pledging Housing, Security, and Tax Cuts
Lisbon's incumbent mayor, Carlos Moedas, presented the electoral program for his re-election bid on Thursday, outlining 15 priority measures focused on housing, security, and mobility. Representing the 'Por Ti, Lisboa' coalition, which now includes the Iniciativa Liberal alongside the PSD and CDS, Moedas aims to secure a second term in the October 12 local elections. The presentation, held at the Centro Cultural de Belém, was attended by prominent government figures, including ministers António Leitão Amaro, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and Miguel Pinto Luz, signaling strong support from the national government.
A cornerstone of the program is what Moedas termed “the largest and most ambitious project for Lisbon,” a plan to develop 250 hectares of urban land. This large-scale initiative will focus on creating new housing neighborhoods and parks in areas such as Vale de Santo António, Vale de Chelas, Quinta do Ferro, and Casal do Pinto. The plan specifically details the construction of 2,400 new homes in Vale de Santo António and over a thousand more throughout Vale de Chelas. This measure is positioned as a direct response to the city's ongoing housing crisis. In addition, Moedas announced the 'De Volta ao Bairro' program, which will repurpose 710 city-owned properties in historic neighborhoods like Alfama, Bica, and Mouraria to provide affordable housing for young people, aiming to combat the loss of residents in the city center.
On the issue of urban management, Moedas addressed public criticism regarding city cleanliness. He announced a new model for urban hygiene, promising that if re-elected, the collection of unsorted waste would increase to six days a week. He attributed the current problems to a “poorly executed decentralization” by a previous administration, a clear reference to former mayor António Costa. Security was also a major theme, with Moedas highlighting the Lisbon Security Plan. He called on the central government to provide 100 more municipal police officers and 500 more PSP agents, and pledged to expand the city's video surveillance network from 95 to 217 cameras by the end of a second term.
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The program also includes significant mobility projects, such as the introduction of a Metrobus line connecting Lisbon and Oeiras and a new tram (Elétrico) to Loures. These projects are intended to improve public transport and reduce traffic. Moedas also committed to ensuring the Carris bus fleet is 100% zero-emission by 2030. In a move to appeal to taxpayers and businesses, the mayor promised to reduce the city's 476 municipal fees by at least half and to maintain the policy of returning 5% of the personal income tax (IRS) share to residents, asserting he is the only candidate defending this tax relief.
The 'Fábrica de Unicórnios' (Unicorn Factory) hub, a flagship project from his first term, is projected to create 30,000 jobs, nearly doubling the current 16,000. The program also includes the construction of three new health centers, five schools, and four nurseries. Culturally, Moedas aims to elevate the Baixa Pombalina to a UNESCO World Heritage site and position Lisbon as a European Capital of Contemporary Art. The list of candidates presented alongside Moedas includes a mix of political figures and independents, such as Gonçalo Reis (PSD), former president of RTP, and Joana Baptista, an independent councilor from Oeiras, reflecting the coalition's strategy to bring in diverse expertise.
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