The leader of the SDP/Azores Parliament accused the government of the Republic of being “hostile” to autonomy and warned that the party would not allow the “normal functioning of institutions” to be called into question for “political reasons”.
“We cannot tolerate the way the Azores and the autonomies are persecuted, against the government of the Republic, with disregard for the obligations of the state in the face of problems that, being the Azores, are also important. country,” said Joao Bruto da Costa in Lajes do Pico at the Azores Day ceremony.
The leader of the PSD in the Azores Parliament emphasized that autonomy “does not exempt the state” from recognizing the “additional costs of isolation” and ensuring “equality among all Portuguese”.
Warning that “an Azorean will never be a second-class Portuguese”, the deputy of the party that leads the government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) defended that “representatives of the Azorean people” cannot “ignore the repeated ignorance” of the state towards the region.
“We do not agree that, almost half a century after the conquest of democracy, the normal functioning of institutions is called into question by any political motives or justifications that contradict the duties of the state in relation to regional autonomies,” he said.
As examples of “insubordination” of the government of the Republic, Bruto da Costa cited the lack of funding for the University of Azores, the “functioning of the justice services” and the “exclusion” of the archipelago from national support. companies and the agricultural sector.
The regional deputy emphasized that the exclusion of farmers from “state assistance after Russia’s aggression from Ukraine” and “emergency support to mitigate the impact of price increases on the cost of production” is “a clear distortion of competition in the industry.”
Bruto da Costa noted that this state aid “subsidizes two thirds of the national milk production at a price of 185 euros per animal” and “excluding the Azores”, a region that “represents one third of the national production”.
“This is not only an unacceptable attitude from the point of view of legality and compliance with the criteria for state assistance, but also a clear hostile act of the government of the republic in relation to our region,” he stressed.
Bruto da Costa also praised the work of the Azores government, which promoted the “recognition of the professional classes that provide public services”, the “stakes on education and qualifications” and the creation of “more and better jobs”.
“The Azores demonstrate to the country the virtues of democratic dialogue and transparency in political activity. And Lisbon’s recent attempts to condition our autonomy will force us to change course,” he warned.
The Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was established by the Parliament of the Azores in 1980 by Regional Decree No. 13/80/A of 21 August to commemorate Azorean identity and autonomy.
The date, a regional holiday, is celebrated on the Monday of Espirito Santo.
At the official meeting, 27 awards will also be presented to personalities and institutions.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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