THE FIRST televised nationwide debate involving the various candidates for the forthcoming Lisbon Câmara elections took place at the Electricity Museum.
However, it has already caused a complaint to the National Elections Commission (Comissão Nacional de Eleições) because SIC Television only invited 12 candidates to take part.
“My party has already made an official complaint to the CNE,” a media regulatory watchdog. said PCTP/ MRPP candidate Garcia Pereira.
The row centres on the fact that SIC has only invited the main party candidates: António Costa (PS), Fernando Negrão (PSD), Ruben de Carvalho (CDU), José Sá Fernandes (BE) and Telmo Correia (CDS), and the Independents Carmona Rodrigues and Helena Roseta.
Those that were not invited to take part included fringe candidates such as Garcia Pereira, Manuel Monteiro (PND), Pedro Graça (MTP), Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira (PPM) and José Pinto Coelho (PNR).
A TVI vox pop survey gave António Costa a 31 per cent share of the vote, with Fernando Negrão 19.5 per cent in the elections, which are due to be held on 15th July.
Among the policies being put forward by the candidates are: gay marriages (António Costa, PS), sound financial management and doing up the Bairros dos Lóios and Amendoeiras (Sá Fernandes, BE), Fernando Negrão (PSD) and Ruben de Carvalho (CDU) keeping Portela airport open, Carmona Rodrigues (Ind) completing the Eixo Norte-Sul by-pass motorway, (Fernando Negrão, PSD) investing in the Porto of Lisbon and developing the river Tagus for water sports.
Telmo Correia (CDS-PP) wants more help for local residents in traditional bairros and the elderly, while Helena Roseta (Ind) promises more help for market traders and policies against homophobia.
Although the official campaign for the Câmara has not yet begun, the various candidates are already discussing coalitions and post-electoral agreements with the exception of António Costa who is banking on an absolute majority.
For example Fernando Negrão is considering an eventual coalition with the CDS-PP while Ruben de Carvalho’s communist PCP could join forces with Sá Fernandes’ far left BE.
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