“Immigration is not a problem, it is a challenge for the country as a whole to create effective conditions to integrate immigrant communities in the best way. And it is a necessity,” said Pedro Pimpão, in an interview with the newspaper Público and Rádio Renascença.

The new president of the ANMP believes that Portugal, with its demographic characteristics, effectively needs labour and immigration in a range of economic activities.

“When we talk to business owners in some sectors, we realise that they are very dependent on immigration, and the mechanisms for integration and inclusion within that immigration must be strengthened. Therefore, I don't see this as a problem, but as a positive challenge for our country, and there are conditions to welcome them in a structured way,” he said.

In Pedro Pimpão's opinion, the process of integrating immigrants should be regulated so that foreigners come to Portugal and have the conditions to have a quality of life and dignity.

Stigma

When questioned about the association between security and immigration, Pedro Pimpão, who was elected president of ANMP last weekend, says that it doesn't make sense, stressing that this creates stigmas.

In the interview, the mayor of Pombal (Leiria district) also acknowledges the difficulties in advancing regionalization through a referendum, admitting that a change in the Constitution could move the process forward.

At the weekend, during the ANMP congress in Viana do Castelo, the Prime Minister stated that regionalization will not be addressed in this legislature because "the timing is inadequate and inopportune" and it is necessary to "deepen the ongoing decentralization."

On that occasion, the president of the ANMP, Pedro Pimpão, said that regionalization "should be discussed," but rejected being disappointed with the Prime Minister's announcement that the process will not be a priority in this legislature.

In an interview with Rádio Renascença and the Público newspaper published today, Pedro Pimpão said he does not oppose regionalization being postponed to a future legislature.

"We are not opposed to that, because we have to look at decentralization and understand the situation and what can be deepened. I also think we have to start making more solid progress so that, in a future legislature, regionalization is truly implemented," he said.

The president of the ANMP also considered that a change in the Constitution "could be a way forward."

“Now, what we have to do is take advantage of the critical mass and create conditions so that those who are already there – metropolitan areas, intermunicipal communities, and the CCDRs [Regional Coordination and Development Commissions] themselves – have more autonomy, more capacity to face the challenges of each region,” he indicated.

In the interview, Pedro Pimpão considers that regionalization should be the subject of broad national consensus.

“If political agents and parties understand that regionalization is important for the country, perhaps foregoing the referendum could be a way forward. But if regionalization is well received by the population, I believe that even with the referendum it can succeed,” he said.

Pedro Pimpão also said that municipal law is one of the goals of mayors, considering that the opportunity to change “is now.”