Lisbon's Urban Crisis: CDU Candidate João Ferreira Slams 'Real Estate Developer Urbanism'

João Ferreira Criticizes Lisbon's Urban Planning

With less than three days until the official start of the campaign for the municipal elections on October 12, João Ferreira, the head of the CDU list for Lisbon, and the communist coalition's entourage were out this Saturday in the parishes of Benfica and Olivais, engaging with potential voters.

Problems Faced by Olivais and Lisbon

João Ferreira, a councilor in the opposition, emphasized that Olivais, one of Lisbon's most populous parishes, faces issues that are general and common to the city. He cited hygiene and urban cleaning, mobility difficulties, problems with public transport operation, the success of automobile traffic, and the pressure this causes on public space and parking.

However, he noted that Olivais is better off in terms of green spaces and green structure compared to other parishes. "It was a parish that, from an urban planning perspective, was thought out and created at a time when there was already a concern to incorporate criteria that were not always present in the city," he said.

Criticism of Current Urbanism

João Ferreira criticized "a city with excessive and unregulated land occupation," where "market urbanism" and "real estate developer urbanism" prevail, resulting from "liberal planning" in recent years. "This is one of the city's problems. It is useful to come to this parish to also draw some inspiration for urban planning principles that are, I would say, at the antipodes of a certain urbanism that has prevailed in the city in recent years," he considered.

"We need to return to a city planning that incorporates the needs and aspirations of people and not the interests of the real estate speculator and the real estate developer," he added.

Campaign Activities and Voter Reception

In Olivais, the CDU entourage's plan was to hold an event at the Feira da Bagageira, near the Quinta Pedagógica dos Olivais, but the rainy afternoon required improvisation, and the communist campaign ended up contacting potential voters in the nearby shopping center.

João Ferreira highlighted that all of the CDU's work is done through direct contact with citizens throughout the entire mandate. "And this means that the recognition of this presence exists at a time like this. (...) In general, I believe there has been a good receptivity to our candidacy. We have encountered some cases like this: people who thought they already had a voting inclination but questioned themselves after the television debates. Hearing the different candidates, they understand that this candidacy has a preparation and knowledge of the city that they do not find in others," he stated.

Other Candidates in the Lisbon Municipal Elections

In addition to João Ferreira, the candidates for the Lisbon City Council in the municipal elections include the current president Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega), Ossanda Líber (Nova Direita), José Almeida (Volt), Adelaide Ferreira (ADN), Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (PPM/PTP), and Luís Mendes (RIR).