Speech by the President of the Government - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

Full text of the speech delivered today by the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, in Praia da Vitória, at the formal session commemorating the Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores:

"Today we celebrate the Azores!

We celebrate our identity, which is reinforced on the traditional Whit Monday.

We celebrate our constitutional achievement!

On April 25, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the beginning of this constitutional achievement.

The achievement of democracy and political autonomy for the Azores and Madeira was marked by the election of our Constituent Members of Parliament, who initiated our democratic and autonomic transformation. 

On that day, we experienced the free and truly democratic participation of the Portuguese people, after almost five decades of dictatorial rule.

I would like to take this opportunity to salute our elected representatives from the Azores who, fifty years ago, so successfully initiated the constitutional transformation of Portugal, the Azores and Madeira at the Constituent Assembly. 

They were Mota Amaral, Jaime Gama, Américo Natalino Viveiros, who are fortunately still among us, as well as José Manuel Bettencourt, Rúben Raposo and Germano Domingos, whom we unfortunately can only pay posthumous tribute.

Our gratitude to all of them.

In this 'truly distinguished' city of Praia da Vitória, where we resume the rotation in our municipal and community celebrations of the celebration of Azores Day, I express our gratitude for the hospitality and collaboration in holding this ceremony, on behalf of our self-governing bodies, resuming the celebration of the community spirit with our people and our traditions.

Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude and congratulations to the Mayor of Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira, and through her to all those who made this festive ceremony possible.

The city of Praia, which began to be designated as such and, due to the achievements of liberalism there, was named Praia da Vitória by a royal charter issued by D. Maria II in 1837, as it played a significant role in transforming Portugal from absolutism to constitutional liberalism in the 19th century.

From Almeida Garrett's Ode, I quote: 'Hail, O Praia da Vitória, cradle of heroes and freedom, where the people rose with bravery.'

From early on, the Azores were a decisive driving force in the most important evolutionary transformations in Portugal and its regimes.

Today, we celebrate ourselves as the Azorean people!

On this Region Day, we celebrate, with pride and humbleness, the people we are.

In the exquisite verses of Emanuel Félix, 'We are heirs to the sea breeze,

Which salts our eyes as we gaze out to sea.' 

And the Political Autonomy we strive for is a living space for expressing our identity.

United by our culture, we will always be a strong, proud and united people. 

Vitorino Nemésio defined ‘Azoreanity’ as more than just a term:

'It is a feeling, a historical experience and a way of being in the world, shaped by the sea, remoteness, migration and resistance.'

Forty-nine years ago, with the democratic and constitutional establishment of our self-governing bodies, we took on the courage to decide our destiny.

And so we have achieved political autonomy and defined our heraldry, all based on the identity of the people and the political institution, as an Autonomous Region.

As such, on each Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, we celebrate more than just a date.

We celebrate the strength of political autonomy, the determination of a people, and the path that has been forged through identity, resilience, and ambition.

In 1976, we began with significant challenges.

Education and health care were privileges enjoyed by few. Poverty was a reality for almost everyone.

Today, the reality is quite different.

We have schools, a university, hospitals and health centres on all islands.

This was achieved through vision, hard work, solidarity and responsibility.

In education, we eradicated illiteracy and democratised teaching.

In health, we built a Regional Health Service that cares for everyone's health, provides treatment for diseases and reaches all islands. We reduced infant mortality and increased life expectancy.

As regards the economy, we modernised traditional sectors, innovated and projected the Azores onto the world stage, while respecting the landscape and environment that sets us apart, and the culture that unites and strengthens us.

Today, even with ongoing limitations and constraints, we are a Region aware of its strength and prepared for the global challenges facing the world, such as climate action and digital and energy transitions.

And we know that Political Autonomy is not a finishing line but a continuous process of development, responsibility and commitment.

Political Autonomy is not isolation. It is integration.

Autonomy is a commitment to cohesion between the islands, to those who depart and those who stay, and to forthcoming generations.

With it, we project our culture, defend our common interests and confirm our strategic role in Europe and the Atlantic.

I am a firm believer in this understanding and, as such, today I reiterate this ambition for transformation, which is perhaps more complex, arduous and challenging.

We have indeed been recognised, albeit insufficiently, both by the country and by the European Union, as an Outermost Region, i.e. characterised by its remoteness and island status, small size and economic dependence, with a small number of products.

These factors, whose persistence and combination severely limit our development, mean that we need help, as we are a Region of needs.

However, it is now time to establish ourselves as a Region of opportunities.

Opportunities for our development and the strategic potential of the country and the European Union, within their geopolitical frameworks.

We are all equally faced with challenges of development and modernity, namely innovating more and ensuring equal access to essential rights.

In a collective and regional future that is as uncertain as the turmoil of the present, we must aspire to ensure that the values of solidarity, equality, social justice and human dignity continue to guide us in the Azores.

And with the political ability to engage in dialogue and become a benchmark for stability.

We are all challenged to promote the changes necessary for the development of the Azores.

Living in the Azores is a balance between land and sea, as well as between seclusion and openness to the world.

In the North Atlantic, the Azores are between the outer edge of  Europe and the transatlantic centre.

It is this Atlantic position that allows us to be key players in the economies of the future, focused on sustainability and digital, energy, technological and scientific transitions, in maritime and space economies, in the field of external relations, under leadership by example, and in the fair dimension of our geostrategic position.

Last week, the new Government of Portugal took office. The XXV Government.

Perhaps it is appropriate on this day that is celebrating the Azores to reiterate the strategic importance of the Azores to the Portuguese Government. 

It is the country that has everything to win if it knows how to harness, with insight and practical action, the potential of the Azores. 

It is the European Union that has everything to win if it knows how to rely on its western Atlantic border to project its future with global relevance.

Relevance in technological innovation, leading by example in the sustainability of human, plant and animal life on the planet, or in competitiveness and growth in new economies, namely the blue, green and technological economies, as they are considered the unavoidable transformations of today, namely the climate, energy and digital transitions. 

The Azores are known for their small land area and population, but we can explain our huge maritime and spatial dimension, which confer upon us global centrality. 

Not everyone is aware of this reality, but I would like to remind everyone that Portugal has one of the largest maritime areas in the world.

Our Exclusive Economic Zone covers approximately 1.7 million km2, making Portugal the 5th largest European country in terms of maritime size and the 20th largest in the world.

I would like to clarify that the Azores Sea represents 56% of the country's sea. This must be considered in our strategies for cohesive and collective development, for the entire Portuguese territory and the Portuguese people. 

This is no secret to anyone.

There are many outstanding issues between the National Government and the Azores, which have hindered the predictability and stability of our public investment, as well as the development and understanding of the State's responsibilities in the Azores and towards the Azoreans.

Over the last year, some of these matters have been considered and even addressed, which I welcome, with recognition of the commitment shown by the previous National Government. 

For the immediate future, as a call for attention to the new National Government, I will mention just one issue, so that its decisive relevance can be highlighted with this selective approach. 

The theme is the Financial Autonomy of the Azores.

It is financial autonomy that allows us to respond effectively to the needs of the population. Therefore, it cannot be subject to arbitrary fluctuations or centralism that disregards our specific characteristics and the contribution we make to the prosperity of our territory.

The latest revisions to the Finance Act of the Autonomous Regions, which are on a downward trend, have weakened our financial autonomy, undermining the Azores' ability to grow with stability.

It is not a mere technical issue. It is a political matter and a question of justice and fairness.

The State should regard the Azores not as a financial burden, but as a contribution to the Atlantic projection of Portugal and Europe, which, stubbornly and unfortunately, it persists in not valuing.

We want the national resources to be managed with rigour, transparency and a focus on the common good.

We advocate mutual respect and loyal cooperation between the State and the autonomous regions.

We are an asset for security and defence, maritime projection and scientific research.

This geostrategic dimension must be acknowledged, valued and turned into investment.

We demand that our rights be respected and we proudly embrace our role in Portugal and the European Union.

We live in a time of great challenges that transcend national borders.

The Azores, due to their position in the Atlantic, are at the forefront of these challenges.

We want autonomy that provides opportunities.

We are all called to embrace this path of transformation.

We are all capable of transforming every expectation into a

vibrant reality.

It is with everyone that we will make the future happen.

Long live the Azores.

The Azores of our islands, our diaspora,  the Atlantic and global geography.

The Azores of their past and present.

The Azores of their future, a more promising future than anything experienced before. 

I have said it!"