Portugal’s Council of Ministers approved a new Local Government plan on August 8, which aims to reduce the number of parish councils and councillors in the country in a bid to cut costs.
According to the government, the restructuring programme is needed to ensure sounder finances and to provide more efficient services to citizens.
The government plans to reduce the number of parish councils based on demographic and geographic aspects and is preparing to discuss the changes with the local authorities in the near future.
The government also intends to reduce the number of councillors, members of the municipal assembly and those holding positions in middle management.
The document with the restructuring plan is almost complete and the government’s goal is to have, at the end of the first half of 2012, “a stronger, more sustained and effective municipal system in the country”.
