The new direction of the Network of Participatory Municipalities, chaired by the Municipality of Valongo, also includes the Municipalities of Lagoa, Braga, Funchal, Fundão, Guimarães, Lagoa – Azores, Lourinhã, Maia, Mealhada, Odemira, Torres Vedras and the Union of Parishes of Massamá and Monte Abraão, as vice-presidents.
The Network of Participatory Municipalities is a collaboration platform between Portuguese Municipalities, which currently brings together 54 members, of which Lagoa has been a member since 2018.
This Municipality is thus committed to «this networking, in the sense of continuous improvement of participatory dynamics in its territory, where the aim is to expand and improve citizenship practices and productive dialogue between the various social agents to instigate innovation, creativity and proactive participation by and for the community».
The Municipality of Lagoa adds that, in its municipality, there is a «strong investment» in the «training and empowerment of young people to intervene in the public space through projects that promote contact between those who direct and manage the municipality and the students, in order to stimulate their creativity for the well-being and sustainable development of the territory and its people, while seeking to continue to invest in active listening to citizens through public participation processes, namely Budgets Participatory'.
“Implicit in the above challenge is the need to strengthen the democratic regime, preventing the growing trends of populism and radicalization of society, fake news and the removal of people from political life, in particular the younger ones”, adds the Municipality. lagoense in a press release.
«It is with great satisfaction that I see Lagoa integrated in the Network of Participatory Municipalities. The inclusion of Lagoa in this collaborative structure that brings together all Portuguese municipalities committed to the development of participatory democracy mechanisms at the local level, is yet another confirmation of our commitment to continue to take firm steps in the construction of a better municipality, through a true active and participatory citizenship, especially among the youngest», commented Luís Encarnação, mayor of Lagoa.
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