Portuguese municipal leaders call for local government reforms

During a conference at the Assembly of the Republic marking 50 years since the first local elections, Portuguese municipal leaders called for legislative reforms to strengthen local government. Key areas identified for revision include municipal electoral laws, the Local Finance Law, and the Statute of Local Elected Officials.

Pedro Pimpão, president of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP), emphasized that the decentralization of competencies must be accompanied by the necessary human and financial resources. He noted that municipalities currently account for 40% of the country's public investment.

Additionally, the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM) has proposed designating December 12 as National Local Government Day. This date commemorates the first democratic local elections held in 1976. ANAM aims to honor the role of local leaders in consolidating democracy and has challenged the country's 308 municipal assemblies to hold solemn sessions to mark the 50th anniversary.