50 years of April 25th: Municipalities say that Portugal “cannot be distracted by the foam of the days” – Current Affairs

“Celebrating April is a time for celebration, but it is also a time to roll up our sleeves and work even harder for the consolidation of plural, supportive democracy, free from any type of constraints, for fraternal democracy”, states the ANMP, in a message relating to 50 years of the Revolution of April 25, 1974, which are celebrated today.

In the message, the ANMP considers that the country cannot be “distracted by the foam of the days”, otherwise “the ideals of April 25, 1974 can be swept under some carpet and times can become dark again” , stressing that “allowing it would be a betrayal”.

The ANMP recalls that, “before the time that April opened, the majority of the Portuguese population was illiterate, poor, had no access to health, culture, sport, leisure”, and, in 50 years, Portugal “changed to better”, mainly due to the fact that it is in the European Union and, therefore, can use European funds, “and, to a large extent, due to the proximity work carried out by the municipalities and parishes”.

Highlighting that the free elections for the local authorities, the Assembly of the Republic and the Presidency of the Republic “are one of the greatest achievements of the 25th of April”, the ANMP highlights that “this is a free vote for the local authorities, for the first time on the 12th of December 1976, when democratic local power was born, served by thousands of mayors who have known how to be selflessly at the service of their communities”.

“And it was through the union of efforts of these mayors that the ANMP was born in 1984, “to work for the municipalities and represent them before the sovereign bodies”, he adds, noting that this has been the work done by the association “over the course of 40 years of the 50” celebrated today.

Maintaining that “local power played a decisive role in the democratization of the country by making it better for all citizens”, the ANMP assures that, 50 years later “on that bright morning of April 25, 1974”, local authorities “continue to work towards the economic, social and cultural development of the territory and the well-being of the populations, towards a more balanced, more cohesive and fairer Portugal for everyone”.

The ANMP adds that it was “with a focus on the development of territories and the provision of an efficient and quality service to the populations” that it worked “intensely on the decentralization of competences from the central State to local authorities and inter-municipal entities”.

Stressing that this is a fundamental reform for the country, the ANMP argues, however, that “it is necessary to go further, deepening the proximity between the State and the people, culminating in regionalization”, for which it will continue to fight.

The ANMP also guarantees that it will “continue to defend, with the Government, a set of essential matters for local authorities and for the country”, such as a new local finance law that “resolves current constraints and responds to new demographic challenges, climate and digital issues facing local authorities”.

In addition, “the close monitoring of the ANMP of Portugal 2030 and the Recovery and Resilience Plan”, in addition to other crucial matters for the common future, such as housing, water, waste or energy.

Recognizing that the country is going through “a particularly challenging time”, the ANMP guarantees that it will do everything “to rise to the challenges” and “to leave a better Portugal for future generations, always seeking to honor the heritage of April”.