On October 26, the Auditorium of the Vila do Bispo Cultural Center hosted the inauguration ceremony for the new municipal bodies of the council, marking the start of the four-year term. The event, which saw a full house, was attended by several regional and local representatives, a member of Parliament from the Central Government, and numerous residents.
The new municipal executive, led by Paula Freitas, also includes Councillor Luís Paixão, both elected by the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD).
The executive further comprises Councillors Rute Silva and Dora Guerreiro, elected by the Socialist Party (PS), and Councillor Afonso Nascimento, representing CHEGA (CH).
With this swearing-in ceremony, a new municipal cycle begins in Vila do Bispo.
In her inaugural speech, Mayor Paula Freitas presented her main priorities, making it clear that “…people will be at the center of all decisions. Children, families, young people, and the elderly will be the true focus of our policies. We will start with what is most urgent and fundamental: Education and Housing.”
Regarding Education, she highlighted:
“We will design the new Vila do Bispo School Center, ensuring that primary school children in Vila do Bispo have a school—yes, a real school, in the true sense of the word. We will also design the Sagres School Center and make a new daycare center a reality, because a community that invests in its children is investing in itself.”
Concerning Housing, she assured that:
“…we will continue the housing projects under the 1º Direito program. It is urgent to ensure affordable homes for young people and families, functional housing for doctors, nurses, teachers, and other professionals, and solutions for those who want to live and work here.”
In parallel, Paula Freitas also emphasized urban rehabilitation as a priority, stating:
“We will support the rehabilitation of urban centers, give new life to heritage, and create conditions so that no one has to leave Vila do Bispo to build their life project.”
The mayor also stressed that her “style of governance will be guided by three fundamental principles: competence, merit, and transparency.”
During the ceremony, the members of the Municipal Assembly were also sworn in, consisting of 15 directly elected municipal deputies—7 from the PPD/PSD list, 6 from the PS list, and 2 from the CHEGA list—as well as 4 elected parish presidents (1 from the Lista Unitária pelo Progresso, 2 from PS, and 1 from Mover Vila do Bispo e Raposeira).
Following the inauguration of the new municipal bodies, the first meeting of the Municipal Assembly was held, during which the board was elected: José Marques was appointed President, and Maria das Candeias Batista and Paulo Borges were appointed Secretaries.
