Local Elections: Left Bloc presents candidates for Faro

José Moreira will be the head of the list for Faro City Council, Célia Gonçalves will head the candidacy for the Municipal Assembly and João Costeira will head the list for the Assembly of the Union of Parishes of Faro.

The lists are made up of people who represent the diversity of the municipality of Faro, from a wide range of professions and multiple backgrounds and sensibilities.

The Left Bloc's candidacy sees the municipality as the "common home of all the people who live or work there."

Today, the Left Bloc states in a note sent to newsrooms, "the central problem in the municipality of Faro is access to housing for all people who live or want to live here. This serious problem goes far beyond the obvious lack of social housing for the poorest, as most workers currently lack the income to afford a home."

Other central issues for the Left Bloc's candidacy include "the fight against poverty, access to excellent public health and education services, as well as the quality of public spaces, the right to a healthy environment, and access to free, high-quality mobility solutions. Solutions to all these serious social problems must be combined with the creation of jobs and wealth, which are at the heart of the local economy. Faro is our Common Home!"

José Moreira is 58 years old and has lived and worked in Faro since October 1999. He lives in the parish of Montenegro and is a Professor of Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Algarve (UAlg). He is an activist and union leader in the fields of Science and Higher Education. He has a particular interest in issues related to the natural environment and human development. His character has been shaped by the Scouting movement, his academic career, and his commitment to civic and political participation. He was elected to the Municipal Assembly for two terms and is a local and regional leader of the Left Bloc. He views participation in political life as a service to the community, in accordance with the ideological principles of the socialist left.

Célia Alves Gonçalves is 44 years old and has lived and worked in Faro since she was a child, a city she feels is her home. She holds a PhD in Archaeology and works at the University of Algarve, where she focuses primarily on the study of human adaptations to coastal environments, as well as the defense and valorization of archaeological and cultural heritage, with particular attention to issues related to climate change and environmental sustainability—topics particularly relevant to Faro and the entire Algarve region. Her active participation since her youth in the student and association movements has shaped her civic and political commitment. She is currently the Faro Municipal Coordinator of the Left Bloc, viewing political participation as a service to the community, with a particular concern for the well-being of Faro families and a more just and sustainable future for all.

João Arnaldo Costeira is 28 years old and chose the city of Faro as his home upon entering higher education. He is completing his master's thesis in Educational Psychology at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the University of Algarve. He has particular interests in the areas of social justice, human rights, and inclusive education. His involvement in social causes and commitment to a more just and equitable society reflect his values and motivations, viewing participation in political life as a service to the community, aligned with the principles of inclusion, solidarity, and equal opportunities for all. He is also a member of the Faro Municipal Coordinator and the District Coordinator of the Left Bloc.