Lisbon voters re-elect Mayor despite horrific streetcar crash

Voters have returned Lisbon’s Mayor to workplace in Portugal’s municipal elections, lower than six weeks after a streetcar crash within the Portuguese capital killed 16 individuals, together with 11 vacationers, and brought about a public outcry.

Mayor Carlos Moedas, heading a right-of-centre coalition, gained 42% of the vote in Lisbon, in contrast with 34% for second-placed left-of-centre chief Alexandra Leitão, in line with official outcomes revealed late on Sunday (October 12, 2025).

Mr. Moedas rejected any blame for the Wednesday (September 3, 2025) crash, which was one in all Lisbon’s worst tragedies in dwelling reminiscence, and refused to resign.

Carris, the corporate working the streetcar service and different public transport within the metropolis, is overseen by the Lisbon City Council. An official investigation is specializing in whether or not poor upkeep was accountable for any issues with the streetcar’s brakes and a security cable.

Mr. Moedas four-year time period as Mayor has additionally introduced criticism of his insurance policies on housing, immigration and trash assortment as Lisbon creaks below the pressure of a surge in vacationers and a steep climb in actual property costs.

Mr. Moedas, 55, is seen as a rising star in Portugal’s centre-right Social Democratic Party and is broadly thought to be a possible future Prime Minister.

His election as Mayor 4 years in the past was a standard profession route for politicians eyeing increased workplace, with political duty for the capital thought to be a stepping stone.