Azores. Jaime Vieira promises an "Open Presidency".

The new mayor of Ribeira Grande, Jaime Vieira (PSD), announced that he will promote the "open presidency" initiative, which will take the municipal executive to all parishes, to "listen to citizens and monitor works on the ground".

Jaime Vieira, who succeeds the Social Democrat Alexandre Gaudêncio, who did not run for re-election on October 12 due to term limits, said at the inauguration ceremony that he intends to lead the municipality of Ribeira Grande, on the island of São Miguel, with "closeness, dialogue and truth".

According to a statement from the municipality, the new administration's priorities include housing, administrative debureaucratization, support for businesses, and the development of the agricultural and fishing sectors.

Jaime Vieira announced the creation of a Municipal Unit for the Prevention and Combat of Addictions and reinforced his commitment to the completion of the seafront project, considered "the greatest project of all in the municipality".

In the social and cultural sphere, he promised to increase the funds allocated to the rehabilitation of dilapidated housing, strengthen the social emergency fund, and consolidate Ribeira Grande as a "Christmas Hub" this year.

The new head of the executive branch also expressed his intention to work with the Regional Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) to ensure that the new Ribeira Grande Health Center is "the largest and best equipped" in the archipelago.

“I will be president of all 14 parishes, not of a party. From today onwards, there are no political colors, only the objective of working with everyone,” stated Jaime Vieira, quoted in the statement released this Wednesday.

Jaime Vieira also emphasized that he assumes the leadership of the municipality "with profound gratitude, humility and a sense of responsibility" and stated that he wants a municipality "where development reaches every parish, every family, every resident of Ribeira Grande".

In closing his inaugural speech, held on Monday, the former president of the Rabo de Peixe Parish Council promised that the executive he leads in the municipality of Ribeira Grande "will work every day to deserve the trust of the people of Ribeira Grande, to serve with truth and to make Ribeira Grande an example of regional and national development."

The elected members of the Municipal Assembly also took office at the ceremony.

The PSD candidacy, led by Jaime Vieira, won the local elections for the Ribeira Grande City Council with 44.14% of the votes cast and four seats, while the PS obtained 41.68% of the votes and three seats.

In the Ribeira Grande Municipal Assembly, the PSD elected 10 members, the PS nine, and Chega two.

The PSD won the leadership of 11 parishes in this municipality on the island of São Miguel, and the PS won three.