Programme of the Government is "the opportunity to put aside incidental differences and converge on what is essential" - José Manuel Bolieiro - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, presented the Programme of the XIV Government of the Azores to the Regional Legislative Assembly today, pointing out that the time has come "to deal with the convergence of policies and goals that the different electoral programmes have presented to the Azoreans" in the recent elections.

"Therefore, with the Programme of the Government, we have the opportunity to put aside incidental differences and converge on what is essential. The essential is the ability to overcome the many challenges that the Azorean society faces, providing it with the necessary means to succeed and to achieve better educational, social, cultural and economic indicators," he emphasised.

He added: "Doing otherwise is doing the worst public service of an entire generation. The problem lies not with democracy, but with the specific political actors who use democratic devices to promote an insurmountable division in society. A divided and unresolved society is a society condemned to anarchy and poverty."

In his speech, José Manuel Bolieiro listed the five pillars on which the Programme of the XIV Government of the Azores is based: people and families; reformist and consistent governance; governance based on constant and enriching dialogue, "capable of building the consensus necessary for the efficient implementation of the best public policies"; governance that promotes qualification as a social lever and governance that strengthens our business fabric, "which must be focused on generating wealth," the "most important way of creating jobs and consolidating social stability."

"This Programme of the Government is also the result of the social and political debate that took place during the election period, in which we all took part, encompassing themes and proposals that are common to other parties and social actors. Therefore, this Programme of the Government is for everyone. For all Azoreans, for all islands, for all families, for all companies and all institutions in our Region. It is a Programme of the Government that praises our identity, our history and our autonomic legacy. It is a Programme of the Government that projects the future and new ambitions," said José Manuel Bolieiro. 

The President of the Government also recalled that "the national and international political and economic contexts call for understanding, a sense of responsibility, firmness of purpose and a continuous willingness to engage in consistent dialogue with persistent and consistent action.

"As a peripheral archipelago region, we face difficult and complex challenges, first and foremost economic growth and wealth generation, bringing us closer to the social and cultural development indicators of the country and Europe," he acknowledged.

Focusing back on the initial message, José Manuel Bolieiro emphasised that he had noted, when "analysing in-depth the proposals of each" party represented in the Legislative Assembly, "clear convergences" with the vision of the XIV Regional Government.

Among these measures, he stressed, for example, "the defence of democracy and all forms of individual and collective freedoms, as well as the promotion of greater participation by civil society in legislative and referendum initiatives."

The fight against corruption by granting more powers to the Corruption Prevention and Transparency Office," extending the scope of its action to all government departments" and the "development of programmes for the management of unused public property to ensure proper use" were other aspects mentioned by the President of the Government.

Fiscal matters, the fight against early dropout from education and training, closer coordination with the private and social sectors to optimise resources, stepping up the provision of health care, the implementation of campaigns for the sterilisation of pets, in conjunction with local authorities, the compensation for the reduction in income caused by the implementation of the Marine Protected Areas Reserve and a strategy for creating new routes and attracting air operators to the Region were highlighted as "convergence solutions." 

"The legitimacy of political power is strengthened by its ability to solve conflicts so that it does not become highly fragmented and self-destructive. Conversely, legislating, governing and exercising power with our backs turned to the people is also the fastest route to failure, protest and political, social and labour instability. Balance is the key. Being a benchmark for stability is synonymous with responsibility," defended José Manuel Bolieiro. 

The President of the Government also pointed out that the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the Azores 2030 Community Framework are opportunities that cannot be delayed or  hindered.

He added: "This Programme of the Government represents a paradigm of commitment to the Azoreans.Towards a solidarity-based region that is also attractive to foreign investment. A commitment to enhancing our usual external cooperation, with elements of economic cooperation as well. We still have to solve many problems from the past, but we also have the motivation and political project to prepare and break new ground for our collective regional future, with innovative solutions for our long-term development."

Related press release: Speech delivered by the President of the Government