2023-04-20 01:08:22
Our Constitution provides for the principle of subsidiarity. This principle determines that superior structures should not pursue attributions or competences that communities, or smaller structures, manage to fulfill in an equal or more efficient manner. This principle, which guides the organization and functioning of the State, enshrines that matters that can be resolved at local or regional level should not be dealt with by the central state.
It will be nothing new that, contrary to this constitutional norm, Portugal is one of the most centralized countries in Europe, with enormous regional distortions in the distribution of wealth and a macrocephaly around the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon. Paradoxically, they also limit the overall development of the economy, as, curiously, the most exporting and job-creating Portuguese regions are the poorest!
In the 19th century, several authors, such as Alexandre Herculano, Almeida Garret and Lobo D’Ávila, rebelled against centralism, in defense of a more decentralized Portugal.
All these years later, centralism is experiencing yet another moment of apogee. The Ministry of Culture seems to have the intention of concentrating the management of museums again. Altogether, there will be seven museums in the North that will come under the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Heritage in Lisbon.
The most curious thing about all of this is that this change in the museums’ tutelage arises in connection with a “decentralizing” reform, in which various competences are transferred to the municipalities and more recently to the CCDR (Commissions for Coordination and Regional Development).
What would make sense was for the management of these equipment to pass to the Municipalities, following the ongoing decentralization process. Will the Municipality of Braga not have the capacity to manage the D. Diogo de Sousa Museum or the Biscainhos Museum? Lisbon does not know the reality of Braga in order to manage the facilities and respective cultural program correctly.
We expect common sense in the centralizing impetus; that this decision be quickly withdrawn and that the management of these equipments pass to the municipalities, continuing the “decentralization process” that is already under way in several areas.
The author writes according to the old spelling.
#Centralism #full #steam #Terreiro #Paço #Biscainhos