The Free, BE and Volt Coalition aims to combat "isaltinism"

Leaders of Livre, BE and Volt, parties that make up the “Evoluir Oeiras” municipal coalition, accused the mayor, Isaltino Morais, of “bullying” and lack of transparency this Sunday, proposing to combat what they called “isaltinism”.

"I think that one of the first tasks that this coalition and this movement have to do in contacting the citizens is to tell those who want to vote for 'Isaltinism' that they have every right and legitimacy to vote for 'Isaltinism'," said Livre spokesperson Rui Tavares.

The leader was speaking at the presentation of the “Evoluir Oeiras” local government candidacy, a coalition between Livre, Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and Volt Portugal, led by independent councilor Carla Castelo, which took place in the Parque Urbano de Miraflores, in that municipality.

Tavares stressed that if a citizen of Oeiras wants to vote for Isaltino Morais (current president and independent candidate supported by the PSD), they should do so, but without being “fooled.”

"Don't vote for 'Isaltinism lite,' or don't vote for those who promise to oppose 'Isaltinism' and then don't oppose it. Don't vote for a fictitious opposition. Anyone in Oeiras who wants to oppose 'Isaltinism' has one vote, and that's for the Evoluir Oeiras coalition," he argued.

The Livre leader accused the current city council of “lack of transparency”, “lack of integrity” and left a question.

"Sometimes people across the country wonder, does Oeiras, known as the country's council with the highest qualification levels, want to continue like this? Is this really what the people of Oeiras want? I am absolutely convinced that this is not what the people of Oeiras want," he stated.

In Rui Tavares' view, "this acid test" will be held "in subsequent elections", even if not in the next ones, on October 12th.

"That moment could come in these elections or in the next election. But the task of developing Oeiras over the next four years, even if those four years are spent in opposition, is to spend the next few years preparing for Oeiras' governance," he argued.

Fabian Figueiredo, national leader of the Left Bloc who represented coordinator Mariana Mortágua – who is on a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza – defined 'isaltinism' as “a political movement that, unfortunately, also took over the Socialist Party and the PSD” and “occupied practically all national parties, with honorable exceptions”.

Praising the candidate, Carla Castelo, Fabian Figueiredo said he knew several mayors across the country, but few "who were so attacked and persecuted and who, despite this constant bullying, never hesitated and never gave in."

"Carla Castelo, with her determination, has improved democracy in Oeiras. Because power can be left-wing or right-wing, but no power is so magnanimous and competent that it doesn't deserve opposition," he argued.

Considering that Oeiras is not only about the future of the municipality but also about "Portuguese local democracy," Fabian Figueiredo criticized Isaltino Morais for using municipal budget funds to finance his social media strategy.

“Isaltino Morais only knows two rules: either everyone dances to his tune, or else it is to deny, to alienate, and to humiliate,” he said.

Inês Bravo Figueiredo, from Volt Portugal, also criticized the “opacity” and “lack of transparency” of the current city council.

The co-president of this party highlighted that the members of the coalition, which went to the polls four years ago, continued to insist on their proposals and "complaints" even when they were told "to accept that in Oeiras there is stealing, but at least things appear done."

In the last local elections, in 2021, the Evoluir Oeiras coalition obtained 7.27% of the votes, electing Carla Castelo.

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