Gaia. Álvaro Santos and Delmino Pereira on the PS lists

The Vila Nova de Gaia PS council approved the list of candidates for the Municipal Council headed by former Secretary of State João Paulo Correia and the name of Professor Álvaro Santos as candidate for the Municipal Assembly, it was announced this Thursday.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the socialist political committee of Gaia states that the list, approved on Thursday, “includes independent citizens from civil society, and that it focuses on proximity to the territory”.

For the Municipal Assembly, the Gaia Socialist Party is betting on Álvaro Santos, teacher, pedagogical director and former director of the Dr. Joaquim Ferreira Alves Secondary School, stating that he has “a highly recognized trajectory of merit and dedication to public schools”.

The list for the Municipal Assembly is “based on principles of representation, parity and equality, including four young people under 30 in the first 21 places”, he adds.

The name of Delmino Pereira, “who is on the list for the City Council as an independent,” is also highlighted. He is a candidate who is part of the International Cycling Union and was president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, leading national cycling to Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Number two on the list will be Maria José Gamboa, former member of the Assembly of the Republic and currently president of the Canidelo Parish Council.

Filipe Lopes and César Rodrigues, presidents of the parish councils of Pedroso and Seixezelo and Grijó and Sermonde, respectively, will join João Paulo Correia's team for the Vila Nova de Gaia Municipal Council to, according to the PS/Gaia, " reinforce the commitment to local government management that is close and attentive to the entire territory ."

Pediatrician Fátima Menezes de Figueiredo, kindergarten teacher Catarina Coutinho and former union leader Raimundo Filipe complete the top spots on the “renewed list for the City Council.”

"This team represents an effort to simultaneously build a team of competent people with proven track records in each of their careers and areas, while also ensuring clear dialogue with civil society, territorial and demographic representation, which are fundamental for a policy of proximity, and the energy and dedication to lead a municipality with the size and importance that Vila Nova de Gaia demands," said João Paulo Correia, quoted in the statement.

The areas of transport and mobility, housing and family support, health and education, infrastructure, security and the defense of the abolition of tolls on the A29, A32 and A41 motorways are some of the priorities listed by the candidacy.

In the race for the Vila Nova de Gaia City Council, the candidacies of André Araújo (CDU), João Paulo Correia (PS), Luís Filipe Menezes (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Daniel Gaio (Volt) and João Martins (BE/Livre) 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.