Socialist Candidate for Vila Nova de Gaia Proposes Reducing IMI to Legal Minimum
The Socialist Party's candidate for the mayorship of Vila Nova de Gaia, João Paulo Correia, has announced his intention to reduce the Municipal Property Tax (IMI) to the legal minimum. The proposal is a key component of his electoral program for the upcoming municipal elections on October 12. Correia, who previously served as Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, also plans to eliminate the specific municipal taxes related to ramps and Civil Protection.
The policy objectives outlined in the candidate's platform focus on establishing 'sound accounts to invest in the future' of the Porto-district municipality. Alongside the IMI reduction, the program includes a proposed decrease in the municipal portion of the IRS (personal income tax), a reduction in medium and long-term public debt, and a shortening of the average payment terms to suppliers. These fiscal measures are presented as a strategy to improve the municipality's financial standing while providing tax relief to its residents.
Housing has been designated as a priority area within the electoral program. The candidate has committed to securing more than 1,100 housing units under an affordable rent scheme by the year 2029. The plan also details the rehabilitation of 600 dwellings currently part of the municipal housing stock and aims to double the number of families receiving direct housing support from 450 to 900 over a two-year period. This focus on housing supply and affordability addresses a key issue in the metropolitan area.
In addition to fiscal and housing policies, the program includes significant planned investments in public services and infrastructure. For the health sector, Correia has identified the second phase of the local hospital's redevelopment, an investment valued at approximately 200 million euros, and its formal designation as a university hospital, as primary objectives. The cultural domain is also targeted for investment, with plans for new auditoriums, a contemporary art museum, and a dedicated exhibition center. Environmental projects feature prominently, with the proposed construction of new green spaces, including the Sermonde Urban Park, the Atlantic Ecopark, and the Santa Luzia Park.
The candidate also addressed public transportation, criticizing the current operation of the Unir bus service. João Paulo Correia stated that, if elected, he would formally request a change of operator. Furthermore, he pledged to extend the free use of the Andante public transport pass to individuals up to the age of 30, as well as to all pensioners and retirees, aiming to improve mobility and reduce costs for these demographics.
The electoral race for the Vila Nova de Gaia council includes candidates from a wide range of political parties. Competing against João Paulo Correia (PS) are André Araújo (CDU), Luís Filipe Menezes (representing a coalition of PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Daniel Gaio (Volt), João Martins (BE/Livre), Rui Sequeira (ADN), António Barbosa (Chega), and Catarina Costa (Partido Liberal Social). The current municipal government is composed of eleven councilors, with the Socialist Party holding a nine-seat majority, while the PSD holds two. The PS also commands a majority in the Municipal Assembly, indicating a strong existing political base for the party in the municipality.
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