Fifty years after the constitutional consecration of democratic local power, the debate about its architecture has become not only necessary, but inevitable. Society has evolved, population demands have changed, and municipalities face increasingly complex challenges. This is the time to reflect on whether the models that support local power remain adequate or whether it is time to introduce reforms that better respond to the current reality.
The decentralization of competences has brought greater responsibility to municipalities, requiring robust financial sustainability and governance models that ensure transparency, territorial and social cohesion. At the same time, digital transformation imposes new management, communication and service provision instruments, reinforcing proximity to citizens. All of this implies rethinking the Local Finance Law, the Municipal Electoral Law and the Local Elected Statute.
Dialogue on these matters must be broad and inclusive. It is essential to involve not only the Government, but also partners who are on the ground and closest to the populations – associations representing local authorities, such as ANAM, ANMP and ANAFRE. Recent calamity situations in several regions of the country reinforced the evidence that local authorities are the first line of response and protection for communities.
To start this dialogue, I proposed the holding of the first Local Government Summit, which will bring together all representative associations later this year. This meeting aims to consolidate the debate and construct proposals that respect the popular will and the robustness of local power. Before that, ANAM had already launched a cycle of conferences on “The Architecture of Local Power”, bringing together academics, thinkers, mayors and experts to analyze the challenges, identify good practices and debate innovative solutions.
There are several questions under discussion: should there be a single list for municipalities or maintain both lists, as currently? Should we introduce majority correction like in France or Italy? Should executives be monocolored or plural? Should Municipal Assemblies maintain or assume their power to dismiss, as provided for in the Constitution? These are essential debates to guarantee government stability and the effectiveness of local democracy, without compromising representation and pluralism.
We are at a moment of opportunity: with the new governing bodies of representative associations recently installed, we are in a position to move forward with serious, informed and constructive reflection. The objective is clear: to strengthen local power, ensuring that it continues to serve the population in an efficient, transparent and inclusive way. This debate is more than desirable – it is a collective responsibility that we cannot postpone.
President of the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM)
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