A recent survey highlights significant support for decentralization in Portugal, particularly at a regional level, with 62% agreeing that investments and public services should align with regional needs despite potential regional differences.
Conducted during a year of municipal elections, the survey reveals a broad openness among citizens to redistribute responsibilities and decision-making autonomy to entities closer to local territories across urban and non-urban areas and age groups.
However, there is a noted lack of awareness about regional and inter-municipal institutions’ competencies.
While the national government is a known entity, people are more familiar with closer local institutions such as municipal councils and parish boards.
About 60% could accurately identify the name and party of their municipality’s mayor, with non-urban residents performing better.
Nevertheless, less than 40% claim a ‘deep’ or ‘very deep’ understanding of these local executive bodies’ competencies and operations.
In the EU, Portugal ranks fifth in municipal spending on general and administrative services and ninth in infrastructure, yet only 18th in health and social services and 19th in education and culture.
The surveyed citizens believe the local government should exert more influence in health and housing, as expressed by 80% of respondents.
In urban municipalities, security is prioritized, with 80% advocating for greater local influence, compared to 70% in other areas.
Overall, the survey indicates a desire for increased local governmental influence across all sectors, with only 5% disagreeing.
According to the survey, 44% perceive local governance positively or very positively, 40% neutrally, and 17% negatively or very negatively.
This perception is better in non-urban areas, possibly reflecting more tangible municipal actions and a reliance on municipal services in daily life.
Over half of respondents (51%) identify providing quality, cost-effective public services as local governance’s main mission.
Many citizens view municipalities primarily as management entities rather than political or democratic arenas.
Regarding satisfaction with local democracy, 38% are satisfied or very satisfied, while only 23% are less satisfied.
This positive sentiment stands out amid a backdrop of declining national and European political trust, suggesting that local governance remains a stronghold of democratic resilience.
Non-urban residents exhibit slightly higher satisfaction levels.
However, satisfaction does not equate to active involvement, as 54% of respondents never participated in local government events or meetings.
This low participation may relate to a belief that politicians are uninterested in public opinion.
Only 22% disagreed with the notion that local politicians ignored public sentiment.
Urban residents tend to feel more excluded from local decision-making compared to non-urban residents.
In non-urban areas, local government is the most trusted governance level, surpassing national institutions.
In contrast, urban areas show a preference for the national parliament and judiciary over local governance, with the national government closely trailing.
Although differences aren’t statistically significant, they may reflect heightened exposure to national debates, less direct contact with elected officials, or a critical view of urban municipal performance.
Access to local governance information sees urban residents favoring digital channels like social media, while in other areas, information circulates more communally and informally with local media as key information sources.
The report results from a survey by DOMP, S.A. for Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, conducted from February 3 to April 3, 2025.
The study targets Portuguese-speaking residents of mainland Portugal aged 18 and over with phone or internet access.
Out of 1,070 completed and validated interviews, the survey holds a 3% margin of error and a 95% confidence level, using 61% online and 39% phone methods.
Quotas applied across gender, age, region (NUTS II), and urbanization, along with nationality and education level for characterization.
