A experiência portuguesa do orçamento participativo
Ficheiros
Data
2014
Autores
Título da revista
ISSN da revista
Título do Volume
Editora
Resumo
As últimas décadas têm-se caracterizado por um sentimento de apatia e desconfiança na política e nos seus protagonistas. Como resposta a este dilema, surge o Orçamento Participativo (OP), que se apresenta como uma ferramenta que facilita o acesso dos cidadãos à informação, permitindo-lhes de certa forma “controlar” e “fiscalizar” os seus representantes, através da possibilidade de participação/intervenção na definição do orçamento para o seu território.
Com o tema proposto “A Experiência Portuguesa do Orçamento Participativo” pretende-se, através de questionários enviados a todos os Municípios portugueses e da consulta às respetivas páginas eletrónicas, identificar e caracterizar os diferentes processos de OP existentes, de maneira a traçar um retrato da situação no país bem como das suas principais características.
Em Portugal, o OP surgiu há cerca de 13 anos, tendo-se já verificado mais de 70 experiências, com pelo menos 39 casos ativos identificados atualmente (considerando apenas os municípios), representando cerca de 13% dos municípios, englobando cerca de 20% da população portuguesa e que já decidiu cerca de 50.000.000,00€.
Trata-se de um processo que tem evoluído muito até então, com cada vez mais processos de caráter deliberativo, através do qual a população decide, diretamente, parte dos investimentos que pretendem para o seu território. Atualmente, é adotado por todas as forças políticas, tendo-se espalhado por todas as zonas do país, deixando de estar concentrado mais a sul, como foi no início da sua implementação. Os municípios de grande dimensão têm uma maior tendência de adoção do OP.
Contudo, perante a constatação de desistências na sua aplicação no país, o grande desafio atual, passa pela sua progressiva evolução, para uma maior transparência e participação, inovando cada vez mais, mantendo-o dinâmico, para que não fique desgastado e esgotado, de maneira a que continue a ser um instrumento de maior aproximação e “reconciliação” com o poder político e que continue a servir os valores de uma democracia mais participativa e mais transparente.
The last decades have been characterized by apathy and a sense of distrust in politics and its representatives. As a solution for this problem, was created the Participatory Budgeting (PB), which is a way for people to access to information in order to “control” and “oversee” these representatives. Through this, the citizen’s participation and involvement in public budgeting can increase. For this study called “The Portuguese Experience of Participatory Budgeting” questionnaires for all Portuguese Municipalities were sent and its websites searched in order to identify and describe the different PB processes that exist in the country. Since the PB appeared about thirteen years ago in Portugal, there have been more than seventy PB cases in total. Currently, only thirty nine active situations were identified (only considering municipalities), which represent approximately 13% of the municipalities. These figures correspond to 20% of the Portuguese population and a budget of about 50.000.000, 00 €. The PB is a process that has evolved a lot. The deliberative processes are increasing and with those people can directly decide how to allocate part of the investments for their territory. On the other hand, this process has been accepted by all political parties and has expanded to all places in the country, whereas in the beginning it was mostly concentrated in the south. The biggest municipalities tend to adopt the PB process more. The same situation occurs within those located near the coast. In the last years many PB experiences have disappeared. To counter this situation it is therefore necessary that the PBs became focused on transparency, participation and innovation. It is important that this tool continues to be a means to reconcile and bring people closer to the political power and to serve the transparent and participatory democracy values.
The last decades have been characterized by apathy and a sense of distrust in politics and its representatives. As a solution for this problem, was created the Participatory Budgeting (PB), which is a way for people to access to information in order to “control” and “oversee” these representatives. Through this, the citizen’s participation and involvement in public budgeting can increase. For this study called “The Portuguese Experience of Participatory Budgeting” questionnaires for all Portuguese Municipalities were sent and its websites searched in order to identify and describe the different PB processes that exist in the country. Since the PB appeared about thirteen years ago in Portugal, there have been more than seventy PB cases in total. Currently, only thirty nine active situations were identified (only considering municipalities), which represent approximately 13% of the municipalities. These figures correspond to 20% of the Portuguese population and a budget of about 50.000.000, 00 €. The PB is a process that has evolved a lot. The deliberative processes are increasing and with those people can directly decide how to allocate part of the investments for their territory. On the other hand, this process has been accepted by all political parties and has expanded to all places in the country, whereas in the beginning it was mostly concentrated in the south. The biggest municipalities tend to adopt the PB process more. The same situation occurs within those located near the coast. In the last years many PB experiences have disappeared. To counter this situation it is therefore necessary that the PBs became focused on transparency, participation and innovation. It is important that this tool continues to be a means to reconcile and bring people closer to the political power and to serve the transparent and participatory democracy values.
Descrição
Dissertação de Mestrado em Finanças e Contabilidade
Palavras-chave
Contabilidade pública , Portugal , Finanças públicas , Orçamento participativo