Born in Outeiro, in Viana do Castelo, Barreto “is very proud of having reached this level”, but recognizes feeling “a little anxiety, because he has” the ‘obligation’ to leave a good image and create a legacy for others who can come later “
Carla Barreto was elected ‘Mayor’ by Thetford, a locality in the East of England near Cambridge, and will be the first Portuguese woman to take office in the United Kingdom when she took office in May.
The councilwoman [councillor] He was elected by his colleagues on Tuesday and the result was expected, as the Portuguese is the most experienced mayors and had been performing since last year the role of Vice-Mayor.
“But there were no guarantees, because they could change ideas. I am independent and I do not belong to the party that has most of the coancillors,” the Labor Party, told Lusa’s Thursday.
The inauguration will be on May 14.
Carla Barreto “is very proud to have reached this level”, but recognizes to feel “a little anxiety, because he has” the ‘obligation’ to leave a good image and create a legacy for others who can come later. ”
“During my mandate I will work hard on the approach and harmony between migrant communities and locals, further develop my advisory role and promote the civic participation of the Portuguese and minorities (especially young women) in institutions where they are inserted, so as to have more visibility and power due to the decisions that affect them in everyday life,” he told Lusa.
In the smallest English municipalities [council]’Mayor’ has essentially ceremonial responsibility, representing events, but without executive power.
Residing in the United Kingdom since 2006, Barreto, 46, was elected as an independent candidate for the first time in 2019 and reelected in 2023 for only one vote.
Born in Outeiro, Viana do Castelo, lived in Canada before settling in Thetford, where he is involved in various civic and community projects.
In addition to being the first Portuguese woman to assume this position in the United Kingdom, she will also be the first nonbrithanic to play Thetford’s role of ‘Mayor’.
Thetford is a rural village with close to 25,000 inhabitants, including several thousand Portuguese. In 2016, Zone voted for the UK departure from the European Union (EU), a process known as ‘Brexit’.
The town is known to have elected the first black Mayor in the United Kingdom, Allan Minns, in 1904.
The first Portuguese Mayor in the United Kingdom was Diogo Rodrigues in Bridgwater, southwest of England, in 2018.
Carlos Castro took the same position a few months later in Crawley, south of London.
