The Algarve councils of Vila do Bispo (10th) and Aljezur (20th) have been placed among the 20 most “transparent” in Portugal.
Portimão (31st), Loulé (34th), Olhão (87th), Lagoa (89th) are the other Algarve councils that feature in the top 100.
On the other hand, Monchique stands out as one of the least transparent councils in Portugal, placing 294th out of all of the country’s 308 municipalities.
The Municipal Transparency Index (ITM) is put together by TIAC, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to fighting corruption.
On national terms, it is led again by Alfândega da Fé, with a top-10 including Arcos de Valdevez, Carregal do Sal, Vizela, Vila Nova de Cerveira, Torres Novas, Marinha Grande, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Pombal and Vila do Bispo.
“The results reflect the goals of the current administration led by mayor Adelino Soares, which are based on the effort to implement a rigorous and transparent management, that allows citizens to know more about the council’s work,” Vila do Bispo council said in a statement.
In a nutshell, the ITM determines how transparent a municipal council is according to the information it posts online on its website, such as data related to the municipality’s “organisation and functioning” as well as its level of “urban, economic and financial transparency”.
The full ranking of Algarve municipalities is as follows:
1. Vila do Bispo (10th)
2. Aljezur (20th)
3. Portimão (31st)
4. Loulé (34th)
5. Olhão (87th)
6. Lagoa (89th)
7. Albufeira (141st)
8. Faro (155th)
9. Alcoutim (166th)
10. Tavira (169th)
11. Vila Real de Santo António (188th)
12. Silves (204th)
13. São Brás de Alportel (222nd)
14. Lagos (227th)
15. Castro Marim (280th)
16. Monchique (294th)
