Rui Cristina
Rui Cristina | |
|---|---|
 Rui Cristina in 2024 | |
| Mayor of Albufeira | |
| Assumed office 3 November 2025 | |
| Preceded by | José Rolo |
| Member of the Assembly of the Republic | |
| In office 25 October 2019 – 12 October 2025 | |
| Constituency | Faro (2019–2024) Évora (2024–2025) Beja (2025) |
| Member of the Loulé City Council | |
| In office 26 September 2021 – 12 October 2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rui Celestino dos Santos Cristina 19 May 1979 Loulé, Portugal |
| Party | Chega (2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Party (2001–2024) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation | Civil engineer • Politician |
Rui Celestino dos Santos Cristina (born 19 May 1979)[1] is a Portuguese civil engineer and politician.
Biography
He was a member of the Assembly of the Republic in the XIV and XV legislatures for the Social Democratic Party (PSD), elected by Faro.[2] He was elected a member of the Loulé City Council in 2021.[3] In the 2022 PSD leadership election, he supported Jorge Moreira da Silva, who ended up being defeated by Luís Montenegro.[4]
In January 2024, he left the PSD and ended the XV legislature as an independent MP.[5] On 26 January 2024, it was announced by the president of Chega, André Ventura, that he would be head of the list for the Évora constituency in the 2024 legislative elections.[6]
For the 2025 general election, he led the Chega list in the Beja constituency.[7] He was elected as Chega was the most voted party in the district with 27.73%, with the constituency's other two seats going to the Socialist Party and Democratic Alliance leaders.[8]
In the 2025 Portuguese local elections, Cristina was elected mayor of Albufeira after taking 40.51% of the vote and three of seven seats. The result ended PSD and CDS – People's Party governance of the city.[9] He left the Assembly of the Republic, with his seat being given to António Carneiro.[10] Albufeira was one of three municipalities to elect a Chega mayor alongside Entroncamento and São Vicente, Madeira, though the party had aimed for 30.[11]
References
- ^ "Entrevista a Rui Cristina". A voz do Algarve. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ "Biografia". www.parlamento.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ "RegInteresses_v5". www.parlamento.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Antunes, Rui Pedro. "Os bastidores da campanha de Moreira da Silva. A turbulência pró-Montenegro, quilos de feijão-frade e um exército de 'Moreiminions'". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- ^ ""Ajustes de contas internos". Deputado Rui Cristina deixa PSD e termina legislatura como não inscrito". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Figueiredo, Inês André. "Ex-PSD Rui Cristina é mesmo o cabeça de lista do Chega por Évora". Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Patola, Inês (4 April 2025). "Legislativas: Rui Cristina cabeça de lista do Chega em Beja". Alentejo Atual (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Serrano, José (23 May 2025). "Rui Cristina, Pedro do Carmo e Gonçalo Valente representarão o distrito na Assembleia da República". Diário do Alentejo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "Chega ganha em Albufeira e acaba com domínio do PSD no concelho: "Houve quem fizesse reinar o medo"". Expresso (in Portuguese). 12 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "Chega troca Rui Cristina por António Carneiro na bancada parlamentar". Alentejo Ilustrado (in Portuguese). 17 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Henley, Jon (13 October 2025). "Portugal's far-right Chega falls well short of expectations in local elections". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2025.