Lisbon's Outgoing Municipal Assembly President Warns: 'Next Term Will Be Equally Demanding'

Rosário Farmhouse Reflects on Lisbon's Municipal Assembly Mandate

Rosário Farmhouse, the outgoing president of Lisbon's Municipal Assembly (AML), declared during the inauguration ceremony for the city's municipal bodies that the 2021-2025 mandate was "an enormous challenge" and emphasized that the next term will be equally demanding.

Speaking at the Gare Marítima de Alcântara, Farmhouse—an independent elected by the PS/Livre coalition—highlighted the responsibilities faced by those serving in local government. She summarized the past mandate with three key words: work, with nearly 1,500 meetings; participation, noting it was the term with the highest citizen involvement; and governability, pointing out that only four of the 584 proposals from the city council were rejected, despite the assembly's majority differing from the municipal council.

Farmhouse, who did not run in the latest local elections, called on all stakeholders to find the best solutions for community problems, stressing the importance of protecting democracy, its prestige, and the hope placed in it by the people.

The ceremony was attended by hundreds of political figures, including Aníbal Cavaco Silva (PSD), Manuela Ferreira Leite (PSD), Paulo Portas (CDS-PP), Mariana Leitão (IL), and João Cotrim Figueiredo (IL). It included the swearing-in of 17 elected members to Lisbon's City Council, including re-elected mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD), and 75 municipal assembly deputies, including 24 parish council presidents.

In her address, Farmhouse praised the elected officials and thanked municipal deputies for their dedication in scrutinizing the city council's activities. She underscored that municipal assemblies play a central role in democracy, serving as platforms where citizens' voices are heard and decisions directly impacting communities are made.

She emphasized the assembly's role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for the popular will, describing it as a living symbol of democratic participation where diverse ideas converge to build solutions for the common good.

Addressing all elected representatives, Farmhouse wished them luck, health, and the determination to make Lisbon an even better city—one that is humanistic, attentive to all individuals, and focused on inclusivity regardless of origin, language, religion, skin color, sexual orientation, or political views.

She envisioned a city that is green and sustainable, promoting healthy living; protective, striving for equity with tailored solutions for families, from free daycare to affordable housing and support for the elderly; resilient, turning difficulties into challenges with quick, innovative, and creative responses; and dream-driven, believing that improvement is always possible.

Farmhouse concluded by wishing that their mandate would always benefit Lisbon.

Election Results and Assembly Composition

In the October 12 elections, Carlos Moedas was re-elected mayor under the "Por ti, Lisboa" coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), securing 41.69% of the vote and eight seats—one more than in 2021—falling just short of an absolute majority, which would have required nine of the 17 executive members.

The second most-voted ticket was "Viver Lisboa" (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), led by socialist Alexandra Leitão, with 33.95% of the vote and six councilors. Chega followed with 10.10% and two seats, while the CDU (PCP/PEV coalition) obtained 10.09% and one seat, missing a second by a single vote.

Following the installation of municipal bodies for the 2025-2029 term, the first extraordinary session of the AML will be held to elect a new assembly board, replacing Farmhouse.

In the AML elections, the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition, led by Margarida Mano (PSD), former Minister of Education and Science, was the most voted, followed by the PS/Livre/BE/PAN ticket headed by André Moz Caldas (PS), former Secretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Of the 75 AML members, the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition elected 21 deputies plus 11 parish council presidents; the PS/Livre/BE/PAN alliance secured 18 deputies and 12 parish presidents; the CDU won six seats and one parish president (Carnide); and Chega elected six deputies.