In the big January electoral festival, the main act is next Sunday’s first round of the presidential election, but on a secondary stage the line‑up includes those who, until Luís Montenegro’s arrival at São Bento, were read in the stars as the forerunners of regional “prime ministers”. The election for presidents of the Commissions for Coordination and Regional Development (CCDRs) ...
New CCDRs go to the polls. Winners known in advance — except in the North
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.
