Eight candidates running for Faro presidency

Eight candidates will be running to be the mayor of Faro in the local elections, which has been governed by the PSD (Social Democratic Party) for 16 years. Three of the candidates represent parties running in Faro for the first time.

By Bruno G. Santos, in News, Politics, Algarve · 16 Sep 2025, 12:16 · 0 Comments

Candidates from across the political spectrum will be running for the seat held for 12 years by Rogério Bacalhau, who is completing his third and final term, as defined by Portuguese law.

Making their debut in the local elections in Faro are Livre, Volt, ADN, and PAN, despite being in coalition with the PSD candidate. In total, there are two more candidates for the Faro local elections, when compared to the 2021 municipal elections.

The Candidates

The field of candidates includes Cristóvão Norte, a member of the Assembly of the Republic and leader of the PSD/Algarve district. António Miguel Pina, representing the Socialist Party, is currently president of the Algarve Intermunicipal Community and mayor of Olhão, currently running out of terms in that municipality. Pedro Pinto, a native of Portalegre and the parliamentary leader of Chega in the Assembly of the Republic, is also a candidate for mayor of Faro.

The Communists, in coalition with "Os Verdes," will run for the CDU, represented by lawyer Duarte Baltazar. The Bloco de Esquerda (BE) chose professor José Moreira to run to be mayor of the Algarve capital. The Livre party is represented by university professor and researcher Adriana Marques Silva.

Pedro Oliveira is running for Volt Portugal, and José Freitas Oliveira is the chosen candidate for ADN.

Tough voting

The race for the Faro presidency is expected to be fierce between the PSD and PS candidates, Cristóvão Norte and António Miguel Pina, respectively. However, the Chega candidate could be a strong opponent, as it was the second-most-voted party in the legislative elections held in May 2025.

Cristóvão Norte leads the list, which includes the PSD, IL, CDS-PP, PAN, and MPT, in the "Faro Capital of Trust" coalition, in what he considers an "unprecedented initiative." The candidate highlights the need to develop the municipality, making it more attractive and enabling Faro to establish itself as "a great regional capital."

António Miguel Pina, for his part, claims to have the "necessary determination and vision" that will restore the municipality to "the centrality it deserves," after 16 years of leadership that he himself considers "aimless."

Despite the visible billboards, Pedro Pinto, the Chega candidate, has not yet formally presented his candidacy. On the posters, he appears alongside André Ventura, the party leader, and uses as a slogan an adaptation of US President Donald Trump's campaign motto: "Make Faro great again."

Other Candidates

The Democratic Unitary Coalition (CDU), represented by Duarte Baltazar, aims to be a "political alternative" to Faro's municipal government, which it considers to be marked by "favouring large interests and businesses, to the detriment of the population's well-being and the public interest."

Also on the left, the Bloco de Esquerda candidate, José Moreira, points to the need to address housing as the main problem facing the municipality, which he believes "goes far beyond the lack of social housing for the poorest." The candidate aims to find solutions to this problem, as well as combat poverty and create jobs.

Housing is also a priority for the Livre candidate, Adriana Marques Silva, who also advocates for better conditions in the education and healthcare sectors. The candidate also aims to promote quality of life and social cohesion, as she believes that Faro has "been neglected in recent years and, as a district capital, deserves much more and better."

The Volt Portugal party, represented by candidate Pedro Oliveira, aims to bring "a more dynamic, transparent, and people-friendly way of governing." The candidate aims to focus on three pillars: "Innovative Faro," focusing on technology, science, and education; "Green Faro," focusing on sustainability; and "Committed Faro," aiming to preserve the city's identity and culture.

The ADN candidate, José Freitas Oliveira, prioritizes the creation of affordable housing, as well as promoting housing cooperatives that allow people "with fewer financial resources to access their own homes in Faro."

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463.