OE: Government promises dialogue but says proposal is “good for parishes”

O Government considers that the proposal of the State Budget for 2027 is “good for parishes” and will continue to dialogue with the juntas to strengthen their means, said President Leitão Amaro today.

“ The discussion of the funding of the parishes is carried out, on the one hand, by the State Budget – the proposal is there and it is a proposal that we believe is good for the parishes – and, on the other hand, in the review of the Local Finance Act, which is currently under way, on the initiative of this Government”, said Leitão Amaro, at the press conference after the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers in Lisbon.

The minister spoke after being questioned about the challenge of the National Association of Freguesias (Anafre), which announced this month the closing of all the services of these municipalities on November 4, in protest, if until then there are no guarantees that their main claims will be accepted in the State Budget (OE) next year.

According to Leitão Amaro, the PSD/CDS-PP executive will continue to discuss funding with the association: “We have been a government that has strengthened the means and capacity of the parish joints. We will continue to be in dialogue with the parishes.”

According to the president of Anafre, Francisco Branco Brito, the protest next week serves to demonstrate “the discontent” of the parishes “and also to demonstrate what is the real impact of the parishes”.

“ Because, looking at this proposal from the State Budget and not having met our demands here, what we feel is that parishes are not important to the Ministry of Finance. And then we will effectively demonstrate what is our impact on society if by then we do not have the guarantee of the political parties that in the specialty include our claims,” Lusa said on 12.

The mayor recalled that on 22 July it was sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Economic Affairs and Territorial Cohesion a letter with “four requests”, one of which recalled the 1% increase in the basis of calculation of state revenue for parishes, based on the tripartite political agreement during negotiations for Anafre’s social bodies, signed by PSD, PS and CDS-PP.

“ At the moment, the Local Finance Act foresees 2.5% and an increase was foreseen to 3.5% in this State Budget ", explained.

The parishes also intend the passage of the mayors in half-time in full-time joints, to ensure the availability of the mayors for “increasing demands”, the updating of the values transferred to the parishes of the municipality of Lisbon, “who have been under pressure from constant wage increases without due updates”, and the right of preference in the acquisition of real estate, as already happens with the municipalities.

“ None of these requests have been answered. The administrative reform of Lisbon has an increase, but it is not enough for those who have been the increases. Therefore, in summary, they were not met”, he added.

According to the proposal of the State Budget for 2027, already approved in general in parliament and now under discussion in the specialty, the parishes will receive a general grant of EUR 440.1 million next year (ME).

The overall final vote is scheduled for November 24, after the discussion process in the specialty.