Deputy Rui Cristina, elected by the Beja constituency as a member of the Portuguese parliament in the last legislative elections, is the head of Chega's list for the mayorship of the Albufeira Municipal Council and one of the party's main bets in the October 12th Local Elections.
Cristina, a sitting MP for Beja, was chosen by the far-right Chega party as its candidate for the Albufeira Municipal Council in the 12 October local elections, making him one of the party’s highest-profile bets in the Algarve mayoral elections.
Cristina, 46, a civil engineer by training, spent more than two decades in the PSD, serving as an MP and running for mayor of Loulé, before defecting to Chega in early 2024. He was elected for Évora that year and, most recently, for Beja in March’s legislative elections.
In an interview with Sul Informação, Cristina pledged to build 500 affordable homes, deliver a new health centre “from scratch” and revive a €40 million mobility plan first drafted in 2018. He also promised to tackle “pockets of insecurity” in Oura and downtown Albufeira, arguing that the resort town has “lost its identity” and fallen behind its tourism potential.
“I grew up in Albufeira, I know its problems,” Cristina said. “This is one of the richest municipalities in the Algarve, but today it suffers from housing shortages, insecurity, and poor healthcare. I’m prepared to face these challenges head-on.”
The candidate, who lives near the city and stresses his local ties, dismissed speculation he might return to parliament if elected mayor. “I will see this challenge through to the end,” he said.
Cristina will be joined on the ticket by Jorge Carmo, president of the Ferreiras Parish Council, as his number two.
Chega’s platform for Albufeira highlights security, health, housing, mobility, and urban cleanliness. Cristina insists that, unlike the PSD—which has led the council for 24 years—he will prioritise residents. “If the people of Albufeira want change, I am ready to deliver it,” he declared.
