Póvoa de Lanhoso residents reject proposal to raise the town to city status

Residents of Póvoa de Lanhoso have rejected a proposal to raise the town’s status to city, following a public consultation run by the Parish Council of Póvoa de Lanhoso, which took place over the past week and concluded on Saturday.

In total, 882 people took part in the consultation, which the parish council said showed “strong participation and community engagement in a decision considered important for the future and affirmation of the municipality”.

According to the published results, the “No” option received 752 votes, representing 85.3% of participants. The “Yes” option gained 129 votes, equivalent to 14.6%. There was also one blank or invalid vote (0.1%).

The parish council stresses that, “regardless of how people voted, the process demonstrated citizens’ willingness to take an active role in the debate about the town’s future”.

As JN previously reported, the process of raising Póvoa de Lanhoso to city status continues to prompt political and social debate in the municipality, with differing positions between the PS and the PSD. In light of the controversy, the Parish Council of Póvoa de Lanhoso, led by the PSD, organised this public consultation to gather residents’ views before issuing the opinion that will be sent to the Assembly of the Republic.

Speaking to JN, the parish council president, Paulo Silva, said that any change from town to city “is not only an administrative procedure, but also a decision with an identity and collective dimension”.

Although the consultation results show the proposal being rejected by residents, the Mayor of Póvoa de Lanhoso, Frederico Castro, had already assured JN that the process is still moving forward in the Assembly of the Republic.

The Socialist mayor argues that the proposal has been developed “in a structured way” since the previous municipal term, dismissing criticism about an alleged lack of strategic planning and the absence of public consultation.

Frederico Castro also noted that raising the town to city status was included in the election programme presented at the 2025 local elections, in which he was re-elected, and said he is confident the final vote in plenary could take place before the end of 2026.