Raquel Azevedo Freitas, president of the São Pedro Fins Parish Council (Maia), expressed reservations about the Parity Law, arguing that gender should not be a reductive factor. According to the official, the willingness to serve and competence are more important than gender or the need to fill quotas.
Freitas participated in the 1st Meeting of Women Parish Councilors of Madeira, promoted by ANAFRE in Porto Moniz. The event, which included a tribute to former parish council presidents, aimed to be a space for reflection on local politics. The councilor highlighted the prejudices faced by women in politics and the need for effective equal opportunities, not just presence.
"It is still questioned how women manage to balance everything, a question not often asked of men," said Freitas, noting that only 15.6% of mayors in Portugal are women. Equality, for her, means providing the same opportunities without diminishing anyone's space, and she warned about the challenges of engaging youth in politics and combating verbal violence and disinformation.
