Coimbra, Portugal is grappling with the aftermath of severe weather that began January 27th, when Storm Kristin caused widespread damage across central Portugal. The city, situated along the Mondego River, faces ongoing challenges as water levels continue to rise, with a new peak anticipated for 3:00 p.m. On Friday, February 13th, 2026.
Leading the response to the crisis has been Coimbra’s Mayor, Ana Abrunhosa, who has been a visible presence on the ground, communicating with residents and overseeing evacuation decisions as the Mondego River’s banks threatened to overflow. “I am exceptionally afraid for safety. There is infrastructure that we need to analyze,” Abrunhosa stated in the early hours of the morning following a collapse on the A1 highway and a breach in the Mondego’s dike system.
Abrunhosa, who has been mayor of the historic “city of students” since 2025, won her election with 42.1% of the vote representing the “Viver Coimbra” coalition – an alliance of the Socialist Party, Livre, and PAN. The current mayor previously served as Minister of Territorial Cohesion from October 2019 to April 2024, during António Costa’s government.
Born in Angola in 1970, Ana Maria Pereira Abrunhosa holds a doctorate in Economics from the University of Coimbra, where she has been a professor since 1995, teaching courses including Introduction to Economics, Microeconomics I, Regional Economics, and European Economics. According to her biography published by the Assembly of the Republic, she likewise served as president of the Managing Authority of the Centro Regional Operational Programme from May 2014, a position she relinquished upon becoming a minister.
Abrunhosa also chaired the Investment Committee of the Financial Instrument for Urban Rehabilitation and Revitalization in June 2016, and the General Council of the Debt & Guarantees Fund of the Development Financial Institution (IFD) from July 2017 to December 2018.
During her time as a minister, Abrunhosa faced scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest related to community funds received by companies connected to her husband. She maintained her and her staff had no involvement in the approval process or allocation of financial support to Thermalvet, a company in question. “To be absolutely clear: neither I nor any of my Secretaries of State ever had any involvement, directly or indirectly, in the approval process of applications, nor in the allocation of any financial support,” she wrote in an opinion piece in October 2022, titled “Caesar’s wife is serious.” Reports at the time indicated that one of her husband’s business partners in the company had been convicted of active corruption in connection with the Golden Visa scheme.
In June 2023, Abrunhosa stated that “ministers govern for the people,” emphasizing the importance of staying connected to those they serve. She demonstrated this sentiment by participating in the Ponte de Lima marches, dressing as Queen Teresa with a crown, earrings, and a traditionally embroidered dress. “The event has dignity for the people of Ponte de Lima, it has dignity for a minister. Why should a minister be different from a citizen, a father, a child, a council president? Why can’t we approach together and celebrate São João, celebrating our culture, our traditions, our pride?” she said. “I would like all my colleagues in the Government to be more on the ground and not just on festive days like today. On normal days, to understand the problems,” she added.
