The Central das Artes in Porto de Mós hosted, on October 7th, the inaugural session of the "The Architecture of Local Power" conference and debate cycle, promoted by the Municipal Assembly of Porto de Mós. The initiative, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first municipal elections in democracy, was well-attended and fostered a rich discussion on the role of municipal assemblies, the evolution of local power, and the future challenges for local authorities.
The session featured speeches by Jorge Vala, Mayor of Porto de Mós, Clarisse Louro, President of the Municipal Assembly of Porto de Mós, and Fernando Santos Pereira, President of the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM). This was followed by a panel discussion with Helena Roseta, former President of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, Francisco Branco de Brito, President of the National Association of Freguesias (ANF), and Isabel Damasceno, member of the National Commission for the Commemorations.
The decisive role of local power in consolidating democracy and fostering the country's development was highlighted. Proximity to citizens and the ability to implement projects were pointed out as key factors for successful local governance, especially with the recent decentralization of powers from the central government to municipalities, particularly in health and education.
The need to update the legislative framework for local power, focusing on the Local Finance Law, also emerged. Helena Roseta emphasized the importance of recognizing territorial diversity and ensuring equal opportunities and access to necessary resources for development for all.
The discussion extended to regionalization, with Helena Roseta and Isabel Damasceno expressing openness to this path, advocating for in-depth analysis and phased implementation.
The debate concluded with the overarching idea that local power is a fundamental pillar of democracy and a decisive driver of the country's development, making a daily difference in the lives of communities. The conference cycle continues on November 11th, at 9:00 PM, at the Central das Artes.
