Elections: President sets date 1 October for local.

The President of the Republic promulgated Friday the government decree setting the date of 01 October for local elections, the same day I received this diploma, approved for more than one month.

In a statement issued in the Portuguese Presidency's website, reads that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “He signed the decree setting the date of 01 October 2017 for the general elections to the bodies of local authorities, Decree approved by the Council of Ministers 30 March 2017 and entered the Belém Palace today”.

Setting the date for local elections 01 October was announced by the Minister of the Presidency, Maria Manuel Leitão Marques, on 30 March, after the meeting of the Cabinet.

This week, the prime minister, António Costa, He had received the parties with parliamentary representation, and the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) and the National Association of Parishes (ANAFRE), on the date of the local elections, and all argued that local elections should be held on 01 October.

According to the Electoral Law of the Organs of Local Government, the date of the local government is marked by government decree, at least, 80 days in advance.

Under the law, these elections have to be held between 22 September and 14 October, a Sunday or national holiday.

In 2013, the previous Government approved 13 June dialing for local elections 29 of September.

In another statement issued Friday, is communicated to ratification of the Parliament Resolution that “approving the Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Swiss Confederation, for another, Navigation on the European Programs Satellite, signed in Brussels, in 18 December 2013”.