The second direct elections for the presidencies of the CCDRs are taking place this Monday, with nearly 11,000 local councillors participating. Only the election in CCDR-Norte will be contested.
CCDRs go to the polls. How indirect elections work and who is standing
Monday, 12 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
A Regional Coordination and Development Commission (Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional, or CCDR) is a regional body that coordinates central government policy locally, manages regional planning and environmental licensing, and oversees certain EU/cohesion funds; mainland Portugal has five CCDRs (North, Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo, Algarve). School directors fear politically driven appointments to CCDRs could steer regional priorities and resource decisions — including education projects and local appointments — in ways that reflect party politics rather than technical criteria.
