“This deepening of decentralization and autonomy of local power should also serve as an example for the State, encouraging and pressing both the Government and the Assembly of the Republic so that other state units gain more autonomy and benefit from the decentralization of competencies,” stated Ribau Esteves, who was the mayor of Ílhavo and Aveiro and did not run for mayor in the October elections.
Ribau Esteves was speaking at the XXVII Congress of the ANMP, which is being held until Sunday in Viana do Castelo. He warned that “the country is sick of so much red tape and waiting on the Finance Ministry” and of processes that cause mayors “to waste much time and resources on unnecessary tasks.”
“Let us be an example that encourages the country to deepen this role of a democracy that is mature enough to trust the components of the State so that they become more responsible, and by being more responsible, accountability will be alongside them,” he pointed out.
Hundreds of mayors are gathered this weekend in Viana do Castelo to elect the new leadership of the ANMP and to discuss topics such as decentralization and local finances.
Pedro Pimpão, the re-elected social-democrat president in Pombal City Hall in the Leiria district, who was already a member of the Executive Council of the ANMP, was elected today as the new president of the association, replacing the socialist Luísa Salgueiro, mayor of Matosinhos.
Luísa Salgueiro, elected president in 2021, leaves the post after the PSD garnered more mayoral seats nationwide, thus winning the presidency of the association that represents municipalities.
