"Autonomy is not a gift, it is an achievement," says José Manuel Bolieiro - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, was present on Friday at the solemn closing session of the conference dedicated to the theme "Democratisation, Autonomy and Decentralisation," held at the Aula Magna of the University of the Azores on the island of São Miguel.

The event featured a round table that brought together the leading figures in autonomic politics from the Azores and Madeira, including the current and former Presidents of the Regional Governments: João Bosco Mota Amaral, Carlos César, Vasco Cordeiro and Alberto João Jardim. 

The debate was moderated by Maria Inácia Rezola, President of the National Commission for the Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the April 25 revolution. It provided a space for reflection on the evolution and challenges of democracy and autonomy in island regions.

The leader of the Azorean Government emphasized the significance of the April 1974 democratic revolution, which secured peace and ended the cycle of colonial wars, profoundly altering the country's trajectory.

For José Manuel Bolieiro, this transformation should serve as an inspiration both for the democrats who idealised and built this path in the past and for today's democrats, who still face threats from regimes that have little in common with democratic principles.

He recalled Portugal's situation before the revolution, as an isolated country without a culture of participation and distant from the modern world, noting that "it was democracy that paved the way for development, progress and inclusion."

However, he defended that the decentralisation process should be further deepened, given that Portuguese democracy still has some reservations with regard to autonomy and decentralisation.

For the President of the Regional Government, the political and administrative autonomy of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira is a valuable achievement of the democratic revolution, built on the pride of being an island and regional identity. However, he emphasised, "This autonomy is not a gift, but a daily conquest that needs to be constantly renewed."

"Our democracy, in its mature phase, still has reservations about the autonomic and decentralisation process," stressed José Manuel Bolieiro.

He also emphasised the importance of Portugal's Atlantic position, strengthened by the presence of the Azores and Madeira, which gave the country global relevance in the Atlantic. Due to the new economies and the international visibility of the Autonomous Regions, the President of the Regional Government stated that Portugal should be "ambitious" in investing in its central Atlantic position, seizing the islands' potential.

Before concluding his speech, José Manuel Bolieiro expressed his appreciation to the University of the Azores, praising the promotion of events such as this congress. It promotes the active and enlightened participation of all, as initiatives like this are essential for strengthening a solid and inclusive democracy that values dialogue and development.