Socialists name candidate for Lisbon Mayor
The former Minister of State Modernization and Public Administration and current parliamentary leader, Alexandra Leitão, will be the Socialist Party's candidate for Lisbon's Mayor.
What?
In a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Lisbon’s Largo do Rato, Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos confirmed that Alexandra Leitão, 51, will be the party’s candidate for Lisbon’s Mayor.
He described the choice as “a strong bet on the city” and a response to what he called the current administration’s inability to solve critical issues.
Santos emphasized Leitão’s “capacity for realization and implementation,” citing her track record as Secretary of State for Education and Minister of Public Administration.
“She is the second most important figure in the PS after me,” he declared.
Her candidacy, he explained, reflects the party’s serious approach to this electoral battle, aiming to address the challenges facing Lisbon, such as housing, mobility, public safety, and urban hygiene.
Criticism of Carlos Moedas’ Administration
Santos took aim at incumbent mayor Carlos Moedas, accusing him of prioritizing image over substance.
“From left to right, it’s becoming clear that Carlos Moedas manages his image well but doesn’t solve the real problems of Lisbon’s residents," he said.
Leitão has been a vocal critic of Moedas, accusing him of aligning with far-right rhetoric. In a recent opinion piece, she called his actions "irresponsible and dangerous," claiming he seeks to court far-right voters at the expense of broader public interest.
Leitão’s Political Ambitions and Vision for Lisbon
Leitão, who has previously expressed interest in becoming Portugal’s first female PM, accepted the candidacy with enthusiasm.
She has publicly criticized Moedas for his handling of key issues, describing Lisbon as “more elitist than ever.”
Leitão, who’s currently the Socialist Party’s parliamentary leader, has also called for greater focus on housing, urban mobility, and social inclusivity in the city.
Her past government roles have demonstrated her ability to implement policies effectively, making her, in Santos’ view, “the right person” to lead Lisbon.
Moedas reacts
On Thursday, the current Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, criticised the PS’s choice of Alexandra Leitão as a candidate for Lisbon’s Mayor, saying that the party is taking a ‘radical’ line.
Carlos Moedas (elected by the PSD/CDS/Alliança/MPT/PPM coalition) stressed that cities “don’t need radicals” and refused to comment on the person in question, but emphasised that the Socialist Party is following “that line” and defended the fact that a city “is moderation and above all knowledge.”
Asked whether the Lisbon mayoral campaign will be between the radicalisation of Alexandra Leitão and the moderation of Carlos Moedas, the current mayor said it was not the moment to present a candidacy.
“I repeat, I’m not a candidate (at the moment), but I represent, and people know this, that field of moderation in politics, which I think is essential for a city, because a city is not made up of ideological choices,” he insisted.