“The deputy Júlia Rodrigues [PS] did not say it was the Socialist Party that ended the regional directions. We made an ‘upgrade’. In addition to having new regional directors, they are sitting at the table in the respective regional operational program,” said José Manuel Fernandes during a joint parliamentary hearing with the Agriculture and Budget committees.
Last year, José Manuel Fernandes assured the parliament that his ministry would regain “direction power” concerning regional services, specifying that the person responsible for these services will be the vice-president of the CCDR – Commissions for Coordination and Regional Development.
This solution had already been advanced by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in the Assembly of the Republic.
On October 29 of the same year, the government approved changes to the functioning of the CCDR in the Council of Ministers, with these bodies now having a vice-president appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture, who will share responsibilities with the Ministry of Cohesion.
In the previous legislature, the government (PS) decided to transfer the competences of the regional agriculture directions to the CCDR, a decision that has been contested by the sector.
