Lisbon City Council intends to name a section of the Eixo Central “Avenida 25 de Novembro (1975)”, next to Avenida Álvaro Cunhal in Lumiar. Another section of the same road would be named “Avenida Jorge Sampaio (1939-2021)”.
The proposals, submitted by Culture Councillor Diogo Moura of CDS-PP, are due to be discussed and voted on at the municipal executive’s next private meeting on Wednesday. They are expected to receive approval from the PSD/CDS-PP/IL leadership, which holds an absolute majority.
The proposed Avenida 25 de Novembro would run between Rotunda Nelson Mandela and Rotunda Coronel Vítor Alves, in Alta de Lisboa, in the Lumiar parish. The proposal describes 25 November 1975 as a decisive moment in Portugal’s recent history, following the political, social and military transformation that began with the 25 April 1974 Revolution.
According to the text submitted by Moura, the date marked the end of the ongoing revolutionary process and changed the balance between political and military forces, strengthening those who supported the gradual establishment of a representative and pluralist democracy.
The proposed Avenida Jorge Sampaio would cover the second section of the Eixo Central, between Rotunda Coronel Vítor Alves and Avenida Nuno Krus Abecasis, across the parishes of Lumiar and Santa Clara.
The name would honour Jorge Sampaio, a former Socialist Party politician who served as mayor of Lisbon from 1990 to 1995 and as president of Portugal from 1996 to 2006. The proposal highlights his civic, political, institutional and international work, as well as his contribution to democracy, human rights and the development of Lisbon.
Moura also points to Sampaio’s work on urban regeneration and public-space improvements during his time as mayor. He further recalls that Lisbon was named European Capital of Culture in 1994, during Sampaio’s mayoral term.
As president, Sampaio is described in the proposal as having maintained an active and accessible role focused on democratic values, fundamental rights and issues including education, immigration, justice, social exclusion and innovation.
The Culture Councillor has also proposed awarding the Municipal Medal of Cultural Merit to actress Maria Rueff and television presenter Eládio Clímaco.
Lisbon’s municipal executive currently has nine of the 17 seats: eight elected representatives from PSD/CDS-PP/IL, including Mayor Carlos Moedas, and an independent former Chega representative. The opposition has four Socialist councillors and one each from Livre, the Left Bloc, the Portuguese Communist Party and Chega.
Sources: Observador.