Democracy must ensure intergenerational solidarity, says José Manuel Bolieiro

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, chaired today, in Ponta Delgada, the opening of the Seminar on "Social Security Contributory Schemes," recalling on the occasion that a democratic regime must ensure "intergenerational solidarity."

"This cannot be just an individual act, it has to be a general responsibility of society, a demand of community and civilization. Therefore, I stress the importance of the quality of the institutions. We cannot neglect the strategic duty to fight for the quality and prestige of the institutions. We cannot promote the deterioration of these institutions, but rather contribute to their improvement," stressed the President of the Government.

According to the President of the Government, it is necessary to continue promoting the idea that it is necessary to "give in order to receive," a true " change that comes with ageing and the need for security" in later life.

José Manuel Bolieiro pointed out that "the State must be co-responsible" in this matter, having regretted the "inertia to implement reforms in these processes."

"We talk about the failure of the systems rather than a reformist vision for their sustainability. Predicting the future is not possible, but preparing it in the present will make it predictable," he continued.

The seminar is promoted by the Vice-Presidency of the Regional Government through the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA). It runs until Friday at the auditorium of the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory (LREC) in Ponta Delgada.

The seminar is coordinated by Ana Celeste Carvalho, Associate Judge and President of the Administrative and Fiscal Court of Lisbon, and Nuno Monteiro Amaro, Master in Administrative Law and guest lecturer at the Porto Business School.

"The state of the art regarding the sustainability of Social Security and the welfare system is worrying in this intergenerational solidarity that should exist and in the very confidence of the people who make their contribution," acknowledged José Manuel Bolieiro, who spoke to journalists after the opening session.