Rui Cristina

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]