Seixal Election Debate Reveals Deep Divisions on Housing Policy
Candidates vying for leadership of the Seixal municipality clashed over housing, mobility, and healthcare in a public debate last Friday, revealing starkly different visions for the future of the Lisbon-area council. The event, which drew a large crowd to the municipal auditorium, placed the 50-year governance of the CDU party under intense scrutiny, particularly concerning its handling of a severe housing crisis driven by rapid population growth.
Paulo Silva, the incumbent mayor from the CDU, opened by defending his administration's track record, citing a municipal budget that has nearly doubled to almost €200 million and a leading 48.8% execution rate of PRR funds in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. He pointed to ongoing construction of seven crèches, two health centers, and innovative social housing projects as evidence of progress. However, he also noted that a major affordable housing project has been stalled for 18 months awaiting approval from the national housing authority, IHRU.
The opposition launched a coordinated critique of the CDU's long-standing power. Miguel Feio, leading the PS/PAN coalition, described the administration as “cristalizada” (crystallized) and unable to cope with the needs of 25,000 new inhabitants. He proposed a radical housing plan, including a €1.6 billion investment over two terms and the creation of a municipal company to build affordable homes. Bruno Vasconcelos of the center-right AD coalition accused the CDU of ideological isolationism, arguing that the municipality’s reliance on EU funds demonstrates a history of underinvestment and a failure to cooperate with the central government.
The housing debate intensified as other candidates presented their platforms. Nurin Mirzan, for the Coligação Liberdade, demanded that 3% of the municipal budget be allocated to housing and called for the expansion of cooperative models. Marta Silva of the Chega party criticized the municipality’s use of its pre-emption right on private property sales, a practice she claims is harming young families. In response, Mayor Silva defended the measure as a tool for public good, though he stated it is used selectively. Mauro Santos of Iniciativa Liberal highlighted that Seixal’s average housing price has outpaced the metropolitan average, advocating for policies that increase supply and better integrate social housing areas.
The debate also touched on the long-delayed Seixal Hospital, a project all candidates support but for which a clear path forward remains elusive. While opposition candidates suggested the municipality should be more proactive, Paulo Silva maintained that the project’s funding is the responsibility of the national government. The discussion on mobility found more common ground, with a universal acknowledgment that the public transport network is insufficient for the current population. The debate underscored that housing affordability and infrastructure development are the central issues that will define the upcoming municipal election on October 12. Understand policy impacts on your Portugal property plans at realestate-lisbon.com.
