Implement a climate of peace and end “the permanent guerrilla war between the PS and the PSD” and complete the work on the water supply and basic sanitation network. These are the main priorities of the candidacy for the Chamber of Castro Marim headed by Francisco Amaral, who will try to regain the presidency of the municipality. in the Interim Elections this Sunday.
In an interview with Sul Informação, the outgoing mayor assured that what he considers most important “is to implement a climate of peace and tranquility here in this municipality. There has been permanent guerrilla warfare for over 20 years, namely between the PS and the PSD, and there is little time left to do anything useful for this land».
And there are many useful things to do for Castro Marim, in the view of the Castro Marim + Humano candidate, a coalition between the PSD and the CDS-PP. “We have to take water to all the homes in this municipality. It is unthinkable that this does not happen. There are actions that have to be done once and for all», defended Francisco Amaral.
Castro Marim “is the only county seat in the country that has not used community funds to renovate the water and sewage system. This infrastructure is over 50 years old and breaks down every day».
«It is true that a work is underway that will bring water to 30 villages, but some are still missing and that is our concern. This is also a way of creating conditions for young couples to settle in the Algarve mountains», defended the social-democratic candidate.
The fact is that, he recalled, there are “a hundred villages scattered throughout the mountains that should have the Internet, mobile phone network and roads in conditions. There are a series of actions that have to be taken to get young people to settle in the mountains».
The water and sanitation network is the main priority, but it is far from being the only important work, in the view of Francisco Amaral.
«Castro Marim is perhaps the only municipality in the country that does not have a business area, that does not have a motorhome park, that does not have a synthetic lawn… well, there are a series of fundamental works for the municipality to develop properly» , he defended.
«We are currently running the cycle path connecting to VRSA. I want to create a network of bike paths. We will also make connections to Praia Verde and Altura beach, as well as to Monte Francisco and Junqueira. I want to get people around, by bicycle and on foot. It makes perfect sense, as well as the creation of motorhome parks here in Castro Marim and Altura and a business area», added the candidate of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition.
Not least because there is in Castro Marim “a nature reserve that has not been sufficiently explored. The bike path that connects VRSA already provides for the contemplation of that natural park by those who use it. In fact, this was a connection that should have been around for 20 years. It is extremely dangerous to cycle or walk on this road that connects Castro Marim to Vila Real».
Which of these works will advance first depends, to a large extent, on co-financing opportunities. «I am fortunate to have Dr. Filomena Sintra. I doubt that there are many people in the Algarve who understand as much of community funds as she does».
“We have a panoply of projects in the pipeline and we are going to try to finance them all. And as there is an opportunity to obtain reimbursement, we will move forward. We have a dozen very interesting projects in the pipeline. The priority, so to speak, will be defined by the availability of community funds», explained Francisco Amaral.
In other words, «there is a lot to do. But we have to have an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in order to carry out work, we cannot spend all our time defending ourselves».
The candidate and outgoing president made a point of remembering what he called the "horrible climate" experienced since the 2017 Local Elections, which was the justification given by the executive he headed for forcing mid-term elections.
“What happened in the year and a half of the mandate was horrible. When the people voted, in the Municipalities of 2017, they voted in the sense of wanting me to be the mayor, but to understand me with the opposition, namely with the PS», he framed.
Francisco Amaral assured that he tried to create bridges. “I invited councilor Célia Brito to belong to the executive, especially since the electoral programs of the two parties were similar, but she refused. Then I invited the second socialist councilor, who did not accept either».
Francisco Amaral also assures that he approached the socialists in order to hold weekly meetings “to see the points of understanding that might exist between the PSD and the PS”, but that his request was refused. On the contrary, “a hidden coalition was born with the councilor of CM1, José Estevens, to hinder, hinder, boycott and destroy the executive”.
«Unfortunately, we lost a lot of time and energy with the situation in which we are living. If I have the majority, as I hope, let us, once and for all, channel our attention to doing beautiful things for this land. This people deserves peace and that useful works are carried out, they are tired of this war”, said the candidate of the coalition Castro Marim + Humano.
Because, he says, “there are no two truths. There is the truth that everyone could see: who was there with a positive, serious, responsible attitude and trying to do something and who was with a negative attitude, always boycotting, destroying and finding excuses not to do it».
“The people are informed and I am convinced that they will vote in conscience and that they will give me a clear victory, with an absolute majority”, concluded Francisco Amaral.
Take the opportunity to learn about the candidates' proposals as well. Celia Brito, from the PS, and Nuno Osorio, of the CDU.
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