Latest news and stories about local governance in Portugal for expats and residents.
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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.
Parishes in Paredes long for the expansion of the Arreigada wastewater treatment plant in Paços de Ferreira to resolve the chronic pollution of the Ferreira River.
Gonçalo Lopes responds to criticism from Defence Minister Nuno Melo, stating he wants “unity and resources to rebuild the municipality” and thanking the Armed Forces for their “exemplary work.”
The Minister of Economy attributes the delay in the arrival of support to the municipalities. The Mayor of Leiria refuses this and says that the Government has not yet perceived what has been done.
More important than creating a new intermediate level of power, Portugal needs something simpler and more effective: true decentralisation of powers to the municipalities. Opinion by Manuel Cordeiro
The municipality has already identified the site to host the new GNR facilities in Famalicão, located on municipal land in Lugar dos Queimados, in the Union of Parishes of Famalicão and Calendário.
Decentralisation operates on two main levels: economic and political. The article discusses the adequacy of the current administrative territorial division in mainland Portugal, arguing that there are too many parish councils, which lack the necessary scale to perform significant functions. Despite previous reforms aimed at reducing the number of parishes, many have been reinstated due to local political pressures. The author suggests that the elimination of parishes should coincide with the creation of municipalities for populous areas. Additionally, the article highlights the absence of regional governance structures, which could enhance public investment and governance. A recent law aimed at transferring competencies to local authorities is also discussed, although the transferred powers are deemed to be of limited significance. The author concludes that establishing regional authorities would require both economic rationality and democratic representation.
The Council of Europe is set to review local governance in Portugal through a monitoring visit by a delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Scheduled from March 3 to 5, 2026, the visit will take place in Lisbon, Santarém, and Alpiarça. The delegation aims to assess the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government since the last monitoring report in 2020. This evaluation will focus on the progress made in local governance practices in Portugal.
The Council of Europe is set to review local governance in Portugal through a monitoring visit by a delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Scheduled from March 3 to 5, 2026, the visit will take place in Lisbon, Santarém, and Alpiarça. The delegation aims to assess the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government since the last monitoring report in 2020, focusing on the progress made in response to the Congress's recommendations. Key areas of evaluation will include the consultation process with local authorities.
The opposition associated with Moedas criticises the lack of transparency surrounding a recent appointment to a Lisbon municipal company.
David Pontes argues that the so-called elections for the presidencies of the CCDRs are a façade: party leaders pick office-holders behind closed doors, depriving voters and local stakeholders of genuine choice. The editorial contends this practice undermines democratic legitimacy, concentrates power within party machines and weakens accountability in regional policy, and calls for transparent, competitive selection procedures and broader electoral reform.
With this measure the Government corrects an inconsistency in the law regarding the composition of the executive board of CCDR Algarve, thereby equalising the number of members across all the commissions.
A commentary questioning opponents of regionalisation and those who resist devolving power, asking who fears empowering citizens with greater regional representation.
