Paula Marques

Paula Marques is a Portuguese politician, activist, actress and producer, recognised for her commitment to public policies on housing and social inclusion in Lisbon.

Born in Porto, she began her academic training in Law at Universidade Portucalense, but went on to complete a degree in Theatre – Acting at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo of the Instituto Politécnico do Porto in 1996. Since 1998, she has worked intermittently as an actress and producer in film and television.

Her political career began with her involvement in the Citizens for Lisbon (CPL) movement, of which she is president. Between 2007 and 2013, she served as an advisor and deputy in the Lisbon Municipal Assembly. In 2013, she was elected as a councillor on the Lisbon City Council, taking on the role of Housing and Local Development, a position she held until October 2021. During her mandate, she stood out for implementing programmes such as the “Solidarity Market” and the “Safe Rent Programme”, aimed at supporting vulnerable families and promoting access to housing.

In 2018, she was elected president of the Portuguese Municipal Housing Association, reinforcing her role in defending the right to housing at national level. In the 2021 local elections, she was re-elected as an independent councillor