Sunday night was a real victory parade for the CDS-PP party. Their president, Nuno Melo, called it a “very happy” evening, and it’s easy to see why. The party managed to hold onto six municipal councils, and even snagged an extra one as part of a coalition effort.
From his podium in a downtown Porto hotel, Melo fired back at those who thought the CDS was down for the count. He challenged them directly: “Go count the votes, count the mayors, count the municipal councils – you’ll quickly change your mind.” His message was clear: this team is still in the game.
The numbers certainly speak volumes. Nuno Melo proudly announced that the CDS-PP now boasts “six plus one” municipalities. They kept control of six areas where they were already strong. Then, they successfully pushed into a new territory, Mêda, in the Guarda district. This win came through a smart coalition with the PSD, with the CDS-PP leading the charge there.
“Tonight was a really happy one for the CDS,” he declared, his voice full of belief. He saw it as the finish line of a tough “cycle of resistance.” Now, he says, a new “cycle of growth” is beginning for the party. It feels like a team that’s weathered some storms and is finally looking up the league table.
He especially highlighted a fantastic upset: the Democratic Alliance (AD), a powerful partnership between the CDS-PP and PSD, claimed victory in Beja. This wasn’t just any win; Beja has long been known as a solid left-wing stronghold. Taking that prize feels like winning an away game in a hostile stadium.
“We’ve been on a great run since 2023,” Melo stated, reflecting on their journey. “It’s been victory after victory. The CDS is here to stay, and we’re ready to grow even bigger.” It’s the kind of confidence you hear from a team that knows its own strength.
The hotel room in downtown Porto, chosen as the party’s command center for election night, buzzed with excitement as the wins rolled in. The six municipalities that stayed in their corner were confirmed: Vale de Cambra, Albergaria-a-Velha, and Oliveira do Bairro in the Aveiro district; Ponte de Lima in Viana do Castelo; Santana in Madeira; and Velas in the Azores. Each one a solid hold for the team.
After his triumphant speech, Nuno Melo announced his next moves. First, he planned to head over to Pedro Duarte’s campaign headquarters. He wanted to personally congratulate the PSD/CDS-PP coalition candidate who had just won the Porto City Council race. Then, Melo was off to Vale de Cambra, ready to energize a rally there, keeping the momentum going.
He also had a sharp message for the Democratic Alliance and a pointed comment about the colors seen on TV election maps. “They might paint these victories with only one color (orange),” he noted, hinting at the PSD’s typical color. “But remember, wherever the Democratic Alliance stands, you’ll find blue and yellow too. You’ll find the CDS.” He was clearly saying that his party’s identity and contributions are vital to the alliance’s success.
Melo reminded everyone that the CDS is a significant player across the board. They’re part of the national government, hold spots in the regional governments of Madeira and the Azores, serve in municipal councils, sit in the European Parliament, and have returned to the Assembly of the Republic. This impressive lineup led him to a firm conclusion: the party “holds its own weight, whether running solo or as part of a team.”