Interim elections to the Assembly of Paçô Freguesia are already dated

Athe interim elections to the Assembly of Freguesia of Paçô, in Arcos de Valdevez, were scheduled for 10 January 2027, according to the ministerial order today published in the Diário da República (DR).

The document, issued by the cabinet of the Minister of Economics and Territorial Cohesion, appears after the “renunciation of the chairman of the Board of Freguesia de Paçô, as well as of all the elected citizens of the list voted most to the Assembly of Freguesia, and the possibility of replacing these elected is exhausted” of the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, district of Viana do Castelo.

The DR also clarifies that “the member of the Government responsible for the supervision of local authorities is responsible for marking the day of the mid-term elections to the parish assemblies”.

On the other hand, it points out the need to ensure that “political parties are able to form coalitions for election purposes”, as well as to ensure that “the groups of voters can form lists”.

The DR also notes that the legally foreseen deadlines “may not, in the abstract, be reconciled”, so “it is important to designate a date for the mid-term elections” to ensure “the effective exercise of rights, freedoms and guarantees of political participation”.

The mayor of Arcos de Valdevez revealed on October 6 to Lusa that the Assembly of Freguesia de Paçô was holding interim elections because the four lists elected in 2025 “were unable to reach understanding for the constitution of the junta”.

“ No list reached a majority [at the local authorities of October 2025]. Four lists were elected that did not reach understanding. They made several attempts but failed”, described Lusa Olegário Gonçalves, president of the Chamber of Arcs of Valdevez and leader of the district of the PSD of Viana do Castelo.

In the Diário da República of October 6, an order by the Secretary of State for Internal Administration (MAI), Telmo Correia, appoints the Administrative Commission of the Assembly of Freguesia de Paçô, “considering the need for interim elections”.

The Administrative Commission of the Assembly of Freguesia de Paçô nominated is composed of Virgilio Pascoal Alves Rodrigues (PPD/PSD), Cristina Maria Pedreira Coelho Ferreira (PPD/PSD) and Cesário Ferreira Gomes (IL).

In 2025, the PSD won the elections to the Paço Freguesia Assembly, with 31.23% of the votes and three deputies.

Three members were also elected by the Liberal Initiative (IL), which had 24.13% of the votes, two PS members (23.97%) and one of the CDS (14.51%), according to the results of the MAI consulted by Lusa.