Candidates reveal priorities for the new legislature

With early legislative elections taking place next Sunday, Jornal do Algarve wanted to know what the candidates leading the lists of the main parties with seats in parliament think and what they are committed to. What do they propose to solve the problems that most concern the population and what vision do they have for the development of the Algarve in the coming years? Health continues to be, unsurprisingly, the number one priority. But issues such as housing, mobility, water management and territorial cohesion come next, reflecting the concerns felt daily by those who live and work in the region. We also wanted to know what they think about Regionalization - an issue that is once again gaining prominence on the national political agenda. Despite insistent requests for a response from the Chega party, they did not respond to the questions asked, until the closing of this edition.

Questions 1 - What are your party's main causes for the region? 2 - Personally, what are your commitments to the people of the Algarve who will vote for you in the upcoming legislature? 3 - Will the next legislature finally be the one for Regionalisation? What is the position of the political force you represent in relation to Regionalisation?

Cristóvão Norte (Algarve candidate, number 2 on the list)

AD – Cristóvão Norte, 48 years old, Portuguese MP and politician, is number two on the list of candidates for MPs of the Democratic Alliance (AD) for the Algarve in the Legislative Elections 1 – The Algarve is a national priority. The Algarve people will only believe it when they see it. In terms of water, we have 507 million underway, with the Pomarão water catchment, desalination plant, reuse of wastewater for golf, reduction of losses from low-lying systems and, in the future, Foupana, Alportel, connection of Alqueva to Santa Clara and the western Algarve. Launch of the new hospital by the end of the year, which includes the oncology centre services, as well as the completion of 5 USF-type C, which will reduce the number of patients without a family doctor by 75%. Health care is not acceptable in the region, but we are taking measures. On the other hand, we have already reduced the number of students without classes by more than half, but there is still much to be done. These are fundamental axes, in addition to housing. 2 - Hospital, 5 USF type-C, water resilience, more affordable housing, students with classes, realizing the 1 billion that we have planned to invest to make up for the delay. I know that the people of the Algarve have difficulty believing it, I would too. Now, I have been dealing with these files and I know what will move forward.

3 - I don't believe it. No party has addressed the issue during the election campaign. Only a referendum can unblock the issue. No one has made that commitment. I am in favor of regionalization. It wouldn't solve everything, but it would solve a lot.

Jose Gusmao

BE – José Gusmão, 48 years old, economist and researcher, head of the Left Bloc (BE) list for the Faro constituency 1 - The housing problem, being a national problem, is particularly serious in the Algarve, a very poor region.