Faro Local Elections: PS and PSD Want More Police on the Streets and Immigrants to Learn Portuguese

Regarding the growth of the immigrant community in the municipality, both candidates support integration measures, but António Pina of the Socialist Party (PS) emphasizes that it is essential that the municipality work with the Government to create legislation to define the maximum number of people per dwelling, in order to avoid overcrowding.

The socialist also says that in addition to teaching Portuguese to immigrants, it's essential that the community learn "the customs." "These people need to learn from our way of life. Respect for others and, essentially, respect for women," he states.

To integrate the immigrant community, Cristóvão Norte emphasizes the need for Portuguese language teaching and notes that he has been considering increasing the number of teaching assistants to aid integration in schools. The Social Democrat points out that the crisis surrounding immigrants stems from the Socialist Party's administration .

Throughout the debate, the clash of ideas between the two candidates turned into a dispute over who was the more Faro-born of the two. It's worth noting that António Pina, the Socialist Party candidate, served 12 years as mayor of Olhão, reaching the maximum number of terms. He is now a candidate in Faro. Cristóvão Norte, meanwhile, was elected deputy in the May legislative elections.

In healthcare, the city of Faro awaits construction of the Faro Central Hospital, which is promised to begin in 2027. By that year, Cristóvão Norte has committed to providing a family doctor for all 7,000 residents of the municipality who say they don't have a doctor. To this end, the Social Democrat admits resorting to private institutions, such as private social welfare institutions (IPSSs), if the government fails to resolve the issue.

In the Socialist Party, António Pina's solution involves creating a new health unit. The Socialist, who wants to pursue a commitment to the University's medical school, says he has already contacted three health professionals about opening the new unit. "We are already contacting three doctors who are available to hire three more doctors to open a new unit," he says.

António Pina refuses to turn to the private sector to solve his health problems.

Housing was also a hot topic of discussion. On one side, Cristóvão Norte advocates for the construction of 500 homes: 200 for social rent and 300 for controlled-cost purchases. On the other, António Pina argues that housing cannot be built using the funds announced by the State under the current local finance law and admits to wanting to change the subdivision in Barciais, where he says it is possible to build 600 homes, something that Cristóvão Norte believes will contribute to the creation of "ghettos."

Renascença invited the Chega candidate for Faro City Council, Pedro Pinto, to the debate, but he was unable to attend.