Alexandra Leitão has decided not to include Pedro Costa in her team for the upcoming Lisbon Municipal Council race. Despite Costa's expressed willingness to run as a councilor and being nominated by the party's local structure, Leitão opted to overlook the former president of Campo de Ourique's Parish Council.
In an interview with Observador in August 2024, Pedro Costa openly stated his availability for the councilor candidacy. However, over the following months, Leitão never reached out to him regarding this matter. The list of candidates for the municipality is set to be approved this Monday, confirming Costa's exclusion. Costa, while confirming the outcome, expressed no hard feelings, emphasizing the importance of collective goals over individual ambitions.
Leitão has chosen Pedro Anastácio, Carla Madeira, and Sérgio Cintra as the socialist candidates, sidelining Costa despite his nomination by the local party. The PS retains the right to nominate the ninth and tenth candidates, though their election is highly unlikely. The remaining spots will be filled by representatives from Livre, Bloco de Esquerda, and PAN.
Costa's exclusion is seen by some within the PS/Lisbon as a Freudian slip by Leitão, signaling a break from the legacy of António Costa, the former Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, with whom Leitão has had a strained relationship. Interestingly, both Leitão and Costa supported Pedro Nuno Santos, yet this alliance wasn't enough to secure Costa's place on the PS's municipal list.
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