BE and Livre nominate Professor João Martins for the Gaia City Council
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The announcement of the coalition, named "Bloco+Livre+Gaia...", had already been made on social media, but only yesterday were the names of the candidates revealed, in a presentation that brought together several figures from both parties, such as MEP Catarina Martins and MP Jorge Pinto, at Praceta Salvador Caetano, next to the General Torres train station in Vila Nova de Gaia.
"I believe it's an ambitious project, but it's achievable. It's a project with greater participation, because it's Bloco, Livre, and a few reservations. And the reservations are the independents and civil society. I think it's about bringing the Left together and opening it up to include everyone. It's not just about a partisan summation, but about establishing bridges between political commitment and civil society," João Martins told Lusa news agency.
The candidate, who has been a municipal deputy since 2021 and a history professor, stated that his priority is housing, "or rather, habitability, because it is a different concept."
"Homes must be comfortable to live in, and there are many homes that lack energy efficiency. We must improve this aspect, either through negotiations with the central government or through local government programs," he said.
Regarding mobility, one of the most debated topics in this third most populous municipality in the country and the most populous in the North, João Martins said that "unlike other candidates for the City Council who want to end the [transport network] Unir", the candidacy believes that "the metropolitan transport company needs to be given time, but will be vigilant".
"We are paying close attention to mobility and are convinced that extending the metro line to the western and eastern parts of the municipality is very important," he added.
João Martins also wants to create the role of Municipal Ombudsman because he considers it "urgent" that "citizens can have someone to talk to, to whom they can express their discontent" and "make the council's activities more transparent", namely with the live online broadcast of Municipal Assemblies.
"Gaia had 16 years of governance under Luís Felipe Menezes [PSD/CDS-PP], who left behind 300 million euros in liabilities. This socialist majority [under Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues, who resigned on June 30] during these three terms has had several setbacks. We will be an oversight and transparency element," the candidate stated.
Graduated in Theology (Baptist Theological Seminary), Queluz, and in History, educational branch, from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto, trainer in the area of Citizenship and Integration, João Martins is from the Left Bloc, while the first candidate of this coalition for the Municipal Assembly, the engineer Hélder Fontes, postgraduate in the area of Political Science, is from the Livre party.
"Four years ago, the Left Bloc was just 500 votes away from electing a councilor. Of course, this isn't a simple sum, because it's the people who vote and we have to respect the people, but I believe in the success of this project because there are a number of synergies here," he concluded, adding that the PAN and the CDU were contacted "but they didn't want to participate in this project."
In addition to João Martins (BE/Livre), in the race for the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, the candidacies of João Paulo Correia for the PS, André Araújo for the CDU, Luís Filipe Menezes for the PSD/CDS-PP/IL and Daniel Gaio for Volt are already known.
The municipal executive branch is composed of 11 seats, with the Socialist Party (PS) holding nine and the PSD holding two. The PS also leads the Municipal Assembly with a majority.
The local elections will take place on October 12th.
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