This year, we are once again called to the polls for another municipal electoral act. The importance of Local Power is constitutionally recognized and it seems unanimous to me that the intervention of so many mayors throughout this country changed the face of the territory after the 25th of April.
After more than 40 years of democracy in Portugal, the challenges facing municipalities and parishes are immeasurable.
Today, the role of elected representatives is less for presenting concrete work, new construction. Today's task seems to me to be much more demanding: making territories more attractive to people, companies and investors, creating mobility and cohesion, fostering partnerships in order to make regions more inclusive, safe, resilient, creative and sustainable.
This true immaterial public work contract, absolutely fundamental for the development of our country, necessarily implies the participation of all citizens and requires the best candidates and candidates for local authorities.
The processes for choosing the top-lists and their respective teams must be judicious and transparent. Citizens in general, and voters in particular, have already demonstrated that they do not tolerate party “jogatanas”, careerisms, populism, lack of competence and irresponsibility.
The financial situation of municipalities remains, of course, an unavoidable aspect of municipal life. The prudent management of public funds is an essential premise for the exemplary exercise of public functions and for the pursuit of the best and most adequate policies at the local level.
The deepening of transparency in the relationship between local authorities and citizens appears to be one of the main challenges for the next four years.
In the Algarve, it is already known who are the heads of the lists by the PS and PSD, without there being, to date, any great news, as a rule, those already elected in office remain as candidates.
We hope that, at least, the constitution of the teams will bring some fruitful innovation to the process. And above all, that electoral projects and programs have robust substance, mindful of the challenges we face.
We look forward to the development of the pre-campaign and campaign in the coming months and we hope that everything happens with a high participation of citizens and customers and great dedication to the public cause and elevation on the part of the candidates.
Author: Inês Morais Pereira is a lawyer and doctoral candidate in Innovation and Territory Management at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Algarve
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