Message from the Regional Government on International Day of Parliamentarism - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

International Day of Parliamentarism is marked today, June 30, a date established by the United Nations General Assembly, calling on us to reflect on the institution that safeguards our fundamental freedoms and rights.

For the Azores, which proudly live under the banner of Autonomy, parliamentarism is not a distant or merely formal concept – it is the arena where the diversity of our nine islands comes together and where, day after day, consensus and the future of our Region are built.

Parliament is, in essence, the place for free speech,  lively debate, but, above all, compromise.

In an increasingly divided global world, where digital noise so often attempts to drown out moderation, parliamentary institutions remain beacons of stability.

It is in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores that different political viewpoints come together to legislate for the common good, demonstrating that democracy is built on respect for diversity and the ceaseless search for solutions that improve the lives of the Azorean people.

This spirit of engagement and democratic transparency entails building strong bridges with society. 

This is where the role of the media proves indispensable. A strong parliamentary system cannot survive without a free, pluralistic and vigorous press – particularly our local and regional media – which translates legislative work for citizens, analyses decisions and ensures that the voice of elected representatives reaches every Azorean household.

The remit of the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities enables us to understand that parliamentary and democratic representation extends far beyond the geographical borders of our archipelago.

Within the communities, our diaspora scattered across the world regards the Azorean Parliament as the ultimate expression of the homeland they left behind.

Migration – whether it involves those who leave or the new residents we welcome – enriches democratic debate and challenges us to create fairer and more humane integration policies.

Furthermore, the Azorean parliamentary system has been able to look to the future, keeping pace with the major transitions of our time.

Celebrating International Day of Parliamentarism reassures our confidence in our elected institutions.

For the Government of the Azores, the stability and maturity of our democracy depend directly on the importance attached to the Parliament.

Therefore, we remain firmly committed to ongoing cooperation, confident that a lively and pluralistic parliamentary debate is the cornerstone of the social and economic development of our islands.

May this day serve to bring citizens even closer to their Assembly: after all, the home of democracy is, and always will be, the home of all Azoreans.

Paulo Estêvão

Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities