A regionalização do continente português: um processo conturbado

Enshrined as regions in the 1976 Constitution, the outcome of the 1998 referendum became a significant obstacle to its implementation on the Portuguese mainland. Since then, several attempts have been made to either terminate the process, replace it with an alternative, or revive it. In this chapter, we delve into the principle of subsidiarity and consider how regionalization, within the context of broader state reform, could contribute to a more democratic and functional mental or theoretical state. Subsequently, we discuss the tumultuous process of state reform and decentralization in Portugal since 1998, evaluating the current government’s decentralization package in light of recommendations from the OECD and the Independent Commission for Decentralization (CID). The results indicate that the government’s decentralization package partially aligns with these recommendations. Little is said about the inherent reorganization of the central state and the Metropolitan Areas of Lisbon and Porto. The government’s preference is for the direct election of restructured CCDRs rather than intermunicipal entities. However, electing them through municipalities may pose an obstacle