The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia, on Thursday underscored what he called the “absolutely decisive role” of local government in the development of the islands, emphasizing the need for a “strong partnership between regional and municipal authorities.”

Garcia was speaking during the official ceremony marking the 480th anniversary of Ponta Delgada’s elevation to city status, where he highlighted the symbolic weight of the celebration taking place in a year that also marks the 50th anniversary of both Azorean Autonomy and local government—“two fundamental pillars of democracy.”

“Autonomy brought political decision-making closer to the Region, and local government brought that decision-making closer to the people,” he said.

The event also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Constitution, which formally enshrined the Azores’ political and administrative autonomy. Garcia pointed to the awarding of the Municipality’s Key of Honor to Jaime Gama—a central figure in securing that constitutional recognition—as a moment of “deep symbolic significance” in the broader celebration of democracy and regional self-governance.

“The awarding of this Key of Honor is a fair tribute to an extraordinary political career, but it is also a way of expressing gratitude for his remarkable contribution to elevating our Region,” Garcia said, highlighting Gama’s role in affirming the Azores within Portugal’s democratic framework.

Garcia concluded by noting that milestone anniversaries—such as the 480 years of Ponta Delgada, alongside the 50-year marks for Autonomy, local government, and the Constitution—should also serve as moments of reflection about the future. He argued that “the development of the Azores is built through proximity to our people,” a principle he said is essential to achieving “a balanced Region that respects the reality of each island and each municipality.”

From Press Release

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