The President of the PS/Azores, Francisco César, addressed a New Year’s message to all Azoreans, focusing on the challenges facing the region and the urgency of preparing a new future.
According to the Socialist leader, it is in fulfilling the desire for “a good year for everyone” that the PS, even in opposition, will continue to work “with humility, duty and a sense of public interest and the common good,” always pointing out “ways to make people’s lives easier and the actions of companies and investors more rewarding”.
In a criticism of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM government in the region, “in which its poor performance is plain to see”, the Socialist listed a series of problems that continue to worsen in the area, from economic and financial challenges to the inefficiency of public administration.
“We have a serious economic problem. It’s not enough to have more tourists if we want to have a more sustainable economy that generates lasting jobs and better salaries,” said the Socialist, warning of the need to find other areas, as has already been proposed by the PS, that guarantee ‘greater sustainability and qualification of the regional economy’.
Concerning the region’s financial situation, Francisco César warned that “asking the Republic for more money is not enough for us to have healthy public finances,” and called for “competence in budget management” and for urgent problems to be tackled: “the constant late payments and the protection of essential companies like SATA”.
Also addressing the lack of efficiency in public administration, Francisco César called for the efficient use of EU funds to improve education and professional skills, “whether to expand the network of nurseries, to build housing, to improve access to health care, to combat drug addiction, growing inequalities and poverty”.
“We have to put an end to the doldrums and decline we’ve been witnessing,” said the Socialist, reaffirming the commitment of the PS/Azores to work side by side with all Azoreans, ”preparing a new, fairer, more sustainable and more supportive future for all.”

In Correio dos Açores, Natalino Viveiros, director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.