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, at the National Assembly in Lisbon, at the plenary session marking the 50th anniversary of the autonomy of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira:

“Mr President of the National Assembly, Your Excellency,

Minister of the Presidency, Your Excellency,

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Your Excellency,

Representatives of the National Government to the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, Your Excellencies,

Presidents of the Regional Legislative Assemblies, Your Excellencies,

President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Your Excellency,

Members of the National Assembly,

Members of the Regional Legislative Assemblies,

Civil, Military, Judicial and Religious Authorities,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today marks a historic day!

The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the constitutional enshrinement of the political autonomy of the Azores and Madeira at the National Assembly.

I warmly welcome the President and all the Members of this House for their initiative and their enthusiastic hosting of this celebration.

It is an honour for us and for our democracy that the self-government bodies of the Autonomous Regions are included in this ceremony, with a say and a voice in the House of Portuguese Democracy.

Democratic maturity is also evident in a straightforward understanding of the institutional value of political autonomy in Portugal.

This celebration honours those who understood that Portuguese democracy would only be complete by enshrining the identity, aspirations and capacity for self-government of the island peoples.

A special greeting to the Members of the Constituent Assembly and to all those who made Political Autonomy one of the greatest achievements of democratic Portugal.

Political Autonomy has enabled the Azores to overcome historical setbacks, establish their identity and take full responsibility for their own development.

Today, the Azores are more than just an outermost region of the European Union.

This is because the future we envisage was, and remains, more ambitious than that.

We want to transform the Azores into a region that is truly recognised as strategic, one that enhances Portugal.

Our sea and our territory confer on Portugal a unique Atlantic dimension and make our country one of the leading maritime nations in Europe and the world.

The Azores lend an Atlantic dimension to Portugal and the European Union.

We are the European Union’s great western border and a platform for stability, knowledge and cooperation in an increasingly uncertain world.

What has been a region of needs will, we believe, become a region of opportunities for our country in the future.

A region of opportunities for the green, blue and digital economies, for science, for technology and for innovation.

It is with this outlook in mind that we will promote autonomy in knowledge and opportunities.

It is also in this context that a significant part of Portugal’s future in the Atlantic will lie.

At a time of profound geopolitical, energy, digital and scientific transformations, the Azores are a true laboratory of the future.

In ocean conservation, scientific research, Earth observation, space technologies, the blue economy and environmental monitoring, the Azores provide opportunities that benefit Portugal and Europe as a whole, starting from the Region itself.

We want to, and we can, transform what has been regarded for centuries as remoteness into what is now recognised as a strategic hub.

The national challenge is crystal clear!

Acknowledging the value of the Azores cannot remain merely words.

It must lead to a vision, active cooperation and investment.

The investment in strategic critical infrastructure is important for the common good.

The investment in science, innovation and knowledge will make Portugal more significant.

This investment will transform Portugal into a European and global asset for security and defence, economic competitiveness and development.

Political autonomy has not, and does not, distance the Azores from Portugal.

On the contrary.

Political autonomy has strengthened democracy and raised Portugal's standing in the world.

Portugal’s future lies in the Atlantic.

The future of the Atlantic depends on the Azores.

I am proud to be Azorean.

I am proud to be Portuguese, and to contribute, from the Azores, to ensuring that we all fulfil Portugal’s potential.

I am proud to be a Democrat and to uphold Portuguese democracy through political autonomy.

I have spoken!"