Azores Government marks 46 years of regional political-administrative statute

The Government of the Azores held a commemorative meeting in Ponta Delgada to mark the 46th anniversary of the region's Political-Administrative Statute (EPARAA). The event, held at the Palácio da Conceição, brought together legal experts to reflect on the historical evolution of regional autonomy and the challenges regarding legislative competencies.

During the meeting, the President of the Azores Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, advocated for a consensual proposal among political parties to deepen regional autonomy through a future revision of the Portuguese Constitution. Bolieiro identified the first half of 2027 as the target timeframe to begin this constitutional revision process, which he considers a political priority for the region.

Bolieiro emphasized that the Azorean Parliament should serve as the primary space for building a comprehensive proposal. He noted that a concerted effort between local political forces would provide greater symbolic and political strength to autonomy claims when seeking consensus in the Assembly of the Republic. He also highlighted the need to address constraints previously identified by the Constitutional Court to ensure future statutory revisions are effective.