Alexandra Leitão Accuses Moedas of Worsening Lisbon's Housing and Hygiene in Electoral Program Launch
Alexandra Leitão, the candidate fronting the 'Viver Lisboa' coalition, has accused incumbent mayor Carlos Moedas of leaving the capital in a worse state regarding housing and urban hygiene, claiming his administration has failed to provide solutions for families. During the official presentation of her electoral program on Friday, Leitão asserted that Lisbon has become a reflection of the current executive's incompetence. The event, held in a garden in São Domingos de Benfica, marked a significant moment in the campaign for the local elections on October 12, setting a confrontational tone by directly targeting the perceived failures of the Moedas administration.
The socialist candidate, backed by a coalition including the Left Bloc (BE), Livre, and PAN, emphasized that her platform offers a clear and necessary alternative to the current governance of the city. "Carlos Moedas has had his time, and the results are clear: a city that is more difficult to live in, especially for families struggling with the cost of housing, and a city that is visibly less clean," Leitão declared to an audience of supporters and journalists. She argued that the current policies have favored real estate speculation over the needs of residents, contributing to the ongoing housing crisis that has seen rents and property prices soar, pushing many locals out of the city center.
The program presented by the 'Viver Lisboa' coalition outlines a series of proposals aimed at tackling these issues head-on. In the area of housing, Leitão's plan reportedly includes a significant increase in the public housing stock, the implementation of stricter regulations on short-term rentals (Alojamento Local), and the use of municipal properties to create affordable rental options. "We cannot stand by while our city becomes a mere tourist attraction, unaffordable for those who work and live here. Our administration will prioritize the right to housing," she stated, drawing a sharp contrast with what she described as Moedas's focus on large-scale projects and attracting foreign investment without sufficient concern for the social impact.
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Urban hygiene was another critical point of her address. Leitão criticized the current state of cleanliness in many of Lisbon's neighborhoods and promised a new management model for waste collection and street cleaning. "The cleanliness of our city is a matter of public health and civic pride. We will invest in the necessary resources and personnel to ensure Lisbon is a city its residents can be proud of," she promised. This point is expected to resonate with many citizens who have voiced frustration over the issue in recent years.
The presentation also saw Leitão making a strong appeal for the 'voto útil' (strategic vote), positioning her coalition as the only force capable of defeating Carlos Moedas. She repeatedly stressed that a fragmented vote on the left could inadvertently lead to the continuation of the current administration's policies. Political analyst Ricardo Borges commented on this strategy, noting, "Leitão is attempting to consolidate the left-leaning electorate by framing the election as a two-horse race. Her success will depend on whether voters from other left-wing parties see her as the most effective vehicle for change." The event underscores the highly competitive nature of the upcoming Lisbon mayoral election, where fundamental questions about the city's development model, housing affordability, and quality of life are at the forefront of the political debate.
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