“Limiting the hours is only one step, when true political courage is demonstrated by tackling the problem at its root, [so] the PS challenges the executive to take the necessary steps to move forward with the ban on alcohol consumption on public roads,” said socialist representative Carla Almeida.

The president of the Misericórdia Parish Council accused the previous executive led by Carlos Moedas (PSD) of ignoring socialist councillors who warned of the problem of unregulated alcohol consumption in the historic centre, but welcomed the recent approval by the City Council of a ban on the sale of alcohol for consumption outside establishments during the night, which comes into force on 14 February.

“How can this now be presented as the president’s original vision?” asked the socialist, assuring that the PS will not accept “empty announcements that serve marketing strategies but fail in practice” and will demand that this measure be “real, effective and enforced”.

The councillor responsible for Economy and Culture, Diogo Moura (CDS-PP), stressed that this will not be an isolated measure, but will be accompanied by others, such as the new regulations on opening hours and noise.

Diogo Moura agreed that there must be increased enforcement, with a particular focus on the most sensitive areas, convenience stores, mini-markets, souvenir shops and illegal street vending of alcoholic beverages.

At the meeting, whose sole agenda item was the presentation of the activity report for September to November 2025, PCP deputy Sofia Lisboa raised the issue of the city’s cultural policy, which she said was characterised by “a profound disconnect between public discourse and concrete practice”, with the municipal budget revealing “persistent job insecurity” and a tendency to “exclude workers and cultural agents from decision-making”.

Chega MP Margarida Bentes Penedo, who at the previous meeting demanded what she called a “right-wing culture”, defended her honour, regretting that her intervention had been confused with a motion of censure.

The mayor, Carlos Moedas, said he was “shocked” by Sofia Lisboa’s statements, pointing out that during his leadership four museums were opened (MUDE, Almada Negreiros, Julião Sarmento and Arte Moderna), three others were renovated (Museu da Cidade, Museu da Marioneta and Museu Bordalo Pinheiro), the new Teatro Variedades was built, and the Teatro Aberto is being renovated, the opening hours of municipal libraries were extended, and spaces were secured for Artistas Unidos and the Academia de Amadores de Lisboa.

Deputy Edgar Vaz, from Chega, questioned the works to extend the Red Line of the Lisbon Metro between São Sebastião and Alcântara, with the mayor taking the opportunity to call for “the work to go ahead”.

“It is frustrating to see how long it has taken,” said Carlos Moedas, noting that it is no longer possible to change the route, so “it is time to move forward”.

The assembly unanimously approved votes of condolence from the PCP for the death of sculptor Francisco Simões, from the CDS-PP for the death of former Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic Luís d’Orey Pereira Coutinho, and from Livre for the victims of the train accident in Spain.

Before the meeting, Lusa attempted to obtain a reaction from the mayor on the outcome of the first round of the presidential elections and whether he would support either of the candidates in the second round, António José Seguro (PS) and André Ventura (Chega), and on the decision by Chega councillor Ana Simões Silva to leave the party and take up her seat as an independent, but the mayor declined to comment.