Carlos Moedas (PSD)’s first year in the Lisbon chamber was marked by several moments of disagreement and tension with the opposition, but there was also unanimity in key decisions, from free transport to fighting inflation.
At his inauguration, on October 18, 2021, the president elected by the “New Times” coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança) pledged to “work tirelessly to reach consensus”.
Inevitably, he had to negotiate with the opposition – PS, PCP, BE, Livre and independently of Cidadãos por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) – because he ruled the city without an absolute majority, but the criticism of councilors without a portfolio focused on the lack of dialogue on the part of Carlos Moedas, who dismissed this accusation and eventually labeled the opposition a “blocking force”.
In response, the Social Democrat has been accused of victimization and misuse of propaganda, without necessarily living up to what he promises and without listening to other forces before presenting relevant plans.
His possible political ambitions and the possibility of simply being ‘passing through’ in the municipality were also the target of the opposition, but the mayor guarantees to be ‘stone and white’ in office.
The first major proof of PSD/CDS-PP leadership was the approval of the 2022 municipal budget, made possible by the abstention of PS and which envisions spending of €1.16 billion, slightly higher than last year (1, 15 billion), including measures from the coalition’s “Novos Tempos” election manifesto, such as increasing the personal income tax return (IRS) from 2.5% to 3%.
Another planned measure referred to free public transport for residents under 23 and over 65, implemented with the unanimous approval of an agreement between the municipality and the company TML – Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa, which is valid “until December 31, 2025 ” and which provides for an expenditure of up to 14.9 million euros per year.
The municipal budget also included the free health plan for the most deprived over the age of 65 and the 50% discount on the Lisbon Municipal Mobility and Parking Company (EMEL) parking lot for residents throughout the city, but these measures are yet to be implemented.
The start of the term was also marked by the response to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, including testing and vaccination, with the opposition criticizing the lack of municipal investment, but concerns lost weight due to the unexpected need to support refugees from Ukraine who arrived in Lisbon, as a result of the invasion by Russia. The council’s response was the creation of the municipal emergency program “VSI TUT — Todos Aqui”, approved unanimously, with measures to ensure housing, employment, education, health, mobility, culture, sports and social support.
Among the controversial moments in the first 365 days of the capital’s rule by Carlos Moedas, the area of mobility was the one that caused the most controversy, with the opposition adopting a proposal by Livre to reduce the maximum circulation rate currently allowed. by 10 kilometers per hour in the city and the abolition of car traffic on Avenida da Liberdade on Sundays and public holidays, and with the Social Democrat who renounces the adaptation of the bicycle path of Avenida Almirante Reis, to give priority to a long-term solution, after defending in the election campaign that was about to end.
The mayor announced that the Feira Popular project in Carnide will omit the investment in an amusement park to create “a green park with equipment for people”, while the implementation of the reduced emissions zone in Avenida, Baixa and Chiado (ZER ABC ) is yet to be decided, unlike other measures taken by the previous executive, such as, for example, the operation of the 41 new road speed control radars, which have already been activated, and the works already started of the General Drainage Plan, with 250 million euros to reduce the risks of flooding and expected completion by 2030.
Despite opposing the suspension of new local housing registrations applicable to 15 of the 24 parishes, as they register a ratio between the number of establishments and the number of permanent housing equal to or greater than 2.5%, until the entry into force of the amendment of the municipal regulations of this activity, Carlos Moedas had to accept the approval of this proposal by the opposition.
During these first 12 months, garbage collection problems have worried Lisbon residents, with the president admitting deficiencies and announcing the hiring of 190 urban sanitation workers. Concerns about noise nuisance also received a response recently, with the establishment of the Noise Line and the activation of the Nightlife Monitoring Council.
In terms of housing, the councilors of “Novos Tempos” had to overcome the lead of the proposal so that the Affordable Income Program (PRA) of the municipality had as a specific requirement that the candidate resided in the capital or had had for the past 10 years. lived. They then received the unanimous approval of an extraordinary competition from the PRA, with a subsidy of 38 homes, for “excluded from the system” in access to municipal houses, families earning between 6,000 and 8,000 euros per year.
The allocation of 40 million euros to the company Gebalis – Gestão do Arrendamento da Habitação Municipal de Lisboa was also unanimously approved to invest in the rehabilitation of municipal housing estates until 2026, a proposal by the PSD/CDS-PP leadership that was considered “inadequate”. ” Was considered. by the opposition. Still to be decided are projects of the previous director for an affordable income, such as Alto do Restelo, which foresees the construction of 400 homes.
In this first year of its mandate, the executive has set up a municipal urban planning coordination committee to take a final decision on the better-known permitting procedures and make progress in developing a strategic plan for transparency and the fight against corruption, including with the code of ethics and conduct of the municipality and with a whistleblower channel for corruption and related violations.
The consensus also stood out with the adoption of the package of 22 anti-inflation measures, with proposals from all political forces, such as not raising municipal rents and taxes and setting up a program to support the restart of the economic activity by companies in debt.covid-19, representing a total investment of 50 million euros.
The process of transferring powers from the state to the municipalities, especially in the fields of education and health, was contested by Moedas, who demanded the necessary resources from the government. The mayor also criticized the organization of the Lisbon 2023 World Youth Day and the process of choosing the location of the future airport in the Lisbon region, with the Social Democrat demanding to participate in the decision.
In the 2021 municipalities, “Novos Tempos” won 34.25% of the vote, removing the municipality from the PS, which led the executive branch for the previous 14 years. The coalition got seven councillors, the coalition “Mais Lisboa” (PS/Livre) also got seven councillors, the CDU (PCP/PEV) two and the BE got one mandate.
In the previous term, the executive had eight elected by the PS (including Cidadãos por Lisboa and Lisboa é many people), one from BE (with a governance agreement with the PS), four from the CDS-PP, two from the PSD and two of the CDU.
Source: DN
