Carneiro defends “way” for referendum on regionalization

“IT IS time to prepare a very simple question to the population [...]: We want those who are in the regional powers today to continue to have an indirect election and to be appointed by the Government elsewhere, or do we simply want to participate with our vote in the choice of those who represent us in the regional powers?”, questioned the socialist leader, who spoke at the closing of the National Autarchic Convention, which took place in Leiria.

José Luís Carneiro recalled the progress made by the PS Government in decentralisation, in particular the participation of the mayors in the election of president and a Vice-President for the Regional Coordination and Development Committees (CCDR), in a reform that led to a “wide decentralisation and deconcentration” of services.

The current government (PSD/CDS-PP), which wanted to “be centralist, wanted to strengthen the number of those who are appointed by the government”, criticized, accusing the executive led by Luís Montenegro of taking steps back in the matter.

“ In other words, what the government wanted to do was to govern what we had opened for the participation of the mayors of all regions”, he said.

In the face of hundreds of mayors, José Luís Carneiro argued that the PS must prepare “the political path” for regionalization to happen in the future.

“ We do not want CCDR governmentized, but we want legitimate regions ", he stressed.

During the intervention, the Secretary-General of the PS argued that the reform of local authorities should be accompanied by the “reinforcement of a culture of accountability”.

In this sense, he proposed the replacement of the General Inspection of Local Administration, “with means and resources capable of ensuring regular, qualified and close supervision of local activity”.