Parish councils open as usual on 4 November: plan to close them in protest at the budget dropped
Parish councils (juntas de freguesia) across the country are open as usual on Wednesday 4 November. Their association had planned to close every council that day in protest at the 2027 budget, but called off the action on the evening of 3 November.
The parish council is where you get a certificate of residence (atestado de residência), which is required when applying for a residence permit, enrolling a child at school, registering with the SNS (the national health service) and in many other cases.
The association said it had reached an agreement with the government and the parties: in 2027 the councils will get €50 million more than in the draft budget, around 20% more than this year. Like municipalities, they will also get the right of first refusal on homes put up for sale, and they have been promised permission to borrow for housing projects. The final vote on the budget takes place on 24 November.
