Marvila, a parish in eastern Lisbon with 35,463 inhabitants according to the 2021 Census, became the only area in the capital where Chega emerged victorious in Sunday's legislative elections.
Under the leadership of José António Videira, elected by the PS, Marvila saw its voters, out of 32,380 registered, choose Chega first with 31.09% (6,103 votes), followed by PS at 29.80% (5,849 votes) and the AD coalition (PSD/CDS-PP) at 17.28% (3,391 votes). This marks a narrow margin of 254 votes between the top two parties.
José António Videira shared with Lusa that the outcome in his parish and nationwide reflects a public fatigue with the current system, viewing it as a protest vote. He emphasized the need for a lengthy reflection on the results, noting the distinct nature of legislative versus local elections.
The AD coalition won the early legislative elections with 89 deputies, while PS and Chega tied at 58 deputies each. Out of Lisbon's 24 parishes, AD led in 16, PS in seven, and Chega marked its first victory in one.
Tiago Gonçalves from the Marvila Health Users and Residents Committee highlighted the growing discontent among residents, pointing to Chega's populist rhetoric that turns people against each other. Meanwhile, Marco Silva of the Marvila March expressed surprise at Chega's rise in this traditionally left-leaning area, planning to engage more with the community to understand the shift.
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