“There was a different feeling due to the pandemic. The campaign was more difficult to carry out, we didn't know very well what the results were, because we visited fewer voters than under normal circumstances, but it was the best result I've had so far”, the mayor told Lusa news agency.
In Sunday's municipal elections, when 104 out of 116 polling stations were counted, the Portuguese had 7,232 votes (70.84%).
This re-election of Miranda also had the support of about a thousand Portuguese voters residing in that area.
“They were supporting me, at least the majority. It is a great pride to be able to count on the support of the Portuguese community”, he declared.
Luís Miranda, 67 years old, born in S. Miguel (Azores), was elected for the first time as councillor in 1987 and 'mayor' of Anjou in 1997, when the city was not part of the urban area of Montreal. Since 2001, when the village was incorporated, he has been elected president of the municipality until now.
The executive of the municipality of Montreal will not have a majority in the municipal assembly, "something that is positive", in the opinion of the mayor.
“We are a neighbourhood of Montreal, it is an advantage for the citizens (minority). Because the presidency of the autarchy has to collaborate with the neighbourhoods, like Anjou”, he stressed.
For the new term, the Portuguese says that the big project ahead “is the development of a metro line” in Anjou, for which the support of the municipality of Montreal will be important.