New Left-Wing Coalition in Almada Pledges to Tackle Real Estate Speculation
The Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and Livre parties have formally announced they will run in a coalition for the Almada municipal elections this October, presenting a unified political project named “Almada em Comum.” The coalition’s ticket will be led by Sérgio Lourosa Alves, a history professor and singer representing Livre, with the sociologist and former BE parliamentarian Sandra Cunha as the number two candidate. The alliance is positioning itself as a “progressive and ecological alternative” for the municipality, which is a significant residential and economic hub within the Lisbon metropolitan area. The parties confirmed that the coalition will contest all municipal bodies, including the city council, the municipal assembly, and all local parish councils within the Setúbal district.
In a strongly worded joint communiqué, the new coalition criticized the eight-year governance of the incumbent PS/PSD executive, led by Mayor Inês de Medeiros. The statement accuses the current administration of having “failed to respond to the social, territorial, and population challenges” and of having “surrendered to real estate speculation, the degradation of public services, and a policy of the cabinet.” The document further states that “faced with the empty promises of eight years of PS and PSD and the threat of the growth of the far-right, the convergence of left-wing parties and movements wants to open new paths based on solidarity, hope, and the defense of human rights.” This rhetoric sets a confrontational tone for the upcoming electoral campaign, focusing on key issues that resonate with a population feeling the pressures of a heated property market.
The “Almada em Comum” coalition has outlined a detailed electoral program, which it states will be open to public participation and is centered on three main priorities: housing, ecology and mobility, and the local economy with sustainable development. The emphasis on housing is a direct response to what many perceive as a crisis in the region, with rising prices and a lack of affordable options. The coalition’s platform suggests a move towards greater market regulation and intervention to protect residents from speculative pressures. This could have significant implications for property developers and investors operating in Almada, a municipality with nearly 184,000 inhabitants spread across 70 square kilometers, according to the latest data from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística.
The political race in Almada is shaping up to be a crowded and highly contested one. Incumbent Mayor Inês de Medeiros has confirmed she will seek a third term. Other confirmed candidates include Luís Palma for the CDU, Hélder Sousa e Silva for the PSD, Carlos Alves for Iniciativa Liberal (IL), and Carlos Magno for Chega. The current municipal executive is composed of five councilors from the PS, four from the CDU, one from the BE, and one from the PSD. The previous two municipal terms were marked by a post-election agreement between the PS and PSD, which ensured a governing majority. The formation of the “Almada em Comum” coalition introduces a new dynamic, potentially fracturing the left-wing vote or, conversely, consolidating it into a more powerful bloc against the current and past governing alliances.
Political analysts suggest that the focus on real estate speculation is a strategic move by the BE-Livre coalition to capture the attention of voters concerned about the cost of living and the changing character of their neighborhoods. A spokesperson for the coalition, who was not named in the official announcement, reportedly stated in a local forum that “the housing policy in Almada cannot be dictated by the interests of large investment funds; it must serve the people who live and work here.” This sentiment reflects a growing public debate across the Lisbon metropolitan area regarding the social impact of foreign investment and tourism on the local housing market. The outcome of the October 12th election will therefore be a critical indicator of the political mood and will set the direction for urban development and housing policy in Almada for the next four years.
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