A motion on the so-called “water highway”, defined as a “warning cry” for the lack of water in the Algarve, was approved at the XIX Congress of the National Association of Parishes (Anafre), which ended yesterday in Figueira da Foz
The proposal, signed by the presidents of the Parish Councils of the Algarve da Anafre delegation, claims that possible water cuts will "drag the region into an unprecedented economic crisis", especially in tourism and agriculture, and points out how measures to implement the construction of a new dam or the transfer of water from Alqueva to the Odeleite-Beliche and Odelouca dams.
In the end, the motion was approved, but with 95 abstentions from the more than 500 congressmen present, despite its subscribers having appealed for “solidarity across the country to resolve this problem”.
At the congress, one of the most applauded proposals was a motion against the VAT values paid by parishes, which claims that they pay the State to be able to exist, it was one of the most applauded today
The motion, approved unanimously, was presented by João Pimpão, president of the council of Meirinhas, municipality of Pombal, district of Leiria, at the main meeting of Anafre, which ended yesterday in Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, and questions the VAT values borne by parishes, which, in several cases, are higher than those registered in the State Budget within the scope of the Parish Financing Fund (FFF).
«I paid 70 thousand euros in VAT and received just over 40 thousand from the FFF. Parishes cannot pay their own FFF, they cannot pay more VAT than what they receive», João Pimpão, elected by the PSD, told the Lusa agency.
In his intervention, the mayor says he asked Anafre, the Court of Auditors and the Tax Authority, among other entities, how much VAT the Portuguese parishes pay in total «and no one can say».
«The State must assume its constitutional responsibilities and provide parishes with the appropriate means to pursue their constitutional desiderata. More than fighting to change the rate or apply a reduced rate, it is urgent to establish a new principle: you cannot receive less in FFF than you pay in VAT», defended João Pimpão.
Another identical case, in the same municipality, is that of the parish council of Pelariga, where the president, Nelson Pereira, reported to Lusa values close to those of Meirinhas: 85 thousand euros supported by VAT and 50 thousand euros received from the FFF.
Taken to a vote, the motion that aims to create a legal mechanism that allows the reimbursement of VAT paid by parishes, was approved unanimously, even after a congressman had mentioned voting against, having retreated from this intention.
Another unanimously approved motion was presented by Nélio Painha, president of the Parish Council of Santo Amaro, in Sousel, Portalegre, and calls for the installation of ATM terminals in all parishes in the country.
In the text of the motion, the mayor wants the State "through its bank, Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD)" to negotiate with Anafre the installation of that equipment in parishes or parish unions.
The motion argues that the initial costs such as the monthly costs of installing ATM terminals should be borne by CGD and that, in parishes that already have that equipment, the investments made should be determined and those investments should be reimbursed by the State.
Vítor Besugo, president of the Beringel parish council and district coordinator of Beja da Anafre, defended, in turn, the completion of roads in that region of Alentejo, arguing that there are highways there «with huge weaknesses and in need of significant improvements».
A motion aimed at limiting mandates for deputies to the Assembly of the Republic, presented by Pedro Barata, president of the Junta de Ferrel, Peniche, was rejected by a "very large majority", while another motion, by the same subscriber, on the implementation of regionalization, was approved by a majority.
In total, of the 40 motions sent to congress, more than 30 were voted on, on various topics, such as financial and fiscal issues linked to the activity of parishes, concerns about accessibility, telecommunications, health and other public services, measures related to health mental or even a request for «positive discrimination» from the Portuguese Society of Authors in the fees it charges in parishes in the interior of the country.
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