Latest news and stories about transparency in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
Sociologist and Transparency International Portugal leader José Fontão discusses the critical need for transparency in political party funding to combat suspicion and corruption.
Alexandra Leitão and other political figures debate the controversial decision to anonymize political party donor identities, citing data protection concerns while critics warn of a significant setback for democratic transparency and public scrutiny.
The Cascais PSD has officially handed over municipal portfolios to Chega, following a governance agreement approved by Chega's national leadership. The party, led by Ventura, will now oversee the portfolios for transparency and sports. In response, the Socialist Party (PS) has decided to return their portfolios in protest, marking a significant shift in the local political landscape.
The article discusses the urgent need for regionalisation in Portugal, highlighting how recent severe weather events have exposed the country's vulnerabilities due to an excessively centralised governance model. It argues that the lack of administrative regions creates a governance void that hampers effective civil protection, resource management, and policy integration. The author advocates for an elected regional level to enhance accountability and transparency, emphasizing that decentralisation must be paired with robust information systems to ensure effective governance. The piece concludes that regionalisation is essential for adapting to climate change and improving democratic engagement.
The speech by the President of the Assembly of the Republic on April 25th painted a portrait of excessive scrutiny. But the legislation says otherwise — and some experts speak of a 'regression' agenda.
At the solemn session in Parliament to mark the 52nd anniversary of April 25th, the President of the Republic warned that “freedom does not disappear all at once, it disappears little by little”. António José Seguro also left several messages for the Government.
Questioned by Expresso regarding the transparency of previous processes that sparked controversy, president Nuno Vassallo e Silva stated, following the presentation of the Belém Cultural Centre's strategic plan for the next four years, that 'direct appointment' does not make sense for these positions. The institution also aims to reduce its dependence on the State by diversifying funding sources and reaching new audiences by 2030.
The extraordinary work of Francisco Frazão at the Teatro do Bairro Alto and Rita Rato at the Aljube Museum is undeniable. By yielding to a demand from Chega, Moedas even had to appoint the director of the São Luiz to manage two theatres simultaneously. Frazão and Rato were chosen through public competition, while their replacements were appointed directly without explanation. Political purges are incompatible with merit and transparency, but Moedas knows which political alliance his future depends on.
Lisbon City Council and EGEAC believe they do not need to provide explanations regarding the appointments at the Teatro do Bairro Alto and the Museu do Aljube. It is our duty to counter this logic, as is required in a democracy. Opinion by Aida Tavares.
The party presented a proposal for them to be reappointed in the event of a 'favourable overall evaluation'.
Opposition parties are calling for “transparency” and want to know the reasons behind the non-renewal of Rita Rato and Francisco Frazão. The PS questions whether this decision is a “quid pro quo” for Chega following public criticism made by a municipal deputy regarding the Teatro do Bairro Alto.
