Good evening

I have stated, many times, that the local authorities are one of the best achievements of democratic Portugal.

The possibility we have to elect those who will govern our councils and parishes is an essential part of democratic quality.

Local authority is the power of proximity. It is the local authority that has first rate knowledge of the material issues that concern the people, their anxieties, their needs, their difficulties.

Tomorrow’s elections are different from other elections, but this does not give them any lesser relevancy. What is at stake is the defence of the people’s local interests.

Nobody has the right to relinquish the issues of his home town, of its prospects for development, of the rigour and transparency with which its council or parish are governed.

The people must be aware that local authorities are in a stage of profound change.

In general, the essential infrastructure and the main equipment required for development have been completed.

Local authorities are now being called upon to perform different tasks.

First of all, within the scope of the fight against old and new poverty situations and in the promotion of social inclusion.

In times of crisis and unemployment, the local authorities have an essential role to perform.

On the other hand, local authorities have been making very significant efforts in educational activities, as well as in the launching of cultural projects.

An ever greater stake must equally be placed on environmental quality, in attracting investment, in job creation, in support of small and medium enterprise, in quality tourism, in urban refurbishment and in safeguarding the heritage.

These are some of the challenges that the local authorities which will be elected must face in the following years.

I renew my trust in the people’s sense of responsibility. To be responsible is to participate. In a democracy, the first gesture of political participation is to vote.

Voting freely and conscientiously is our duty, the duty of all of us.

A duty which we have to those who built democratic Portugal.

A duty we have to the present, for the resolution of day-to-day issues.

Above all, voting is a duty we have towards the future.

If we vote, our children and grandchildren will never be able to say that we didn’t act when we should have done.

Voting is an opportunity for our voice to be heard.

We must all vote tomorrow, on behalf of Portugal and of our future.

Good night