A commemorative session marking the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese Constitution will place Azorean deputies to the Constituent Assembly at center stage. The event is scheduled for April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Coro Alto of Palácio da Conceição, in Ponta Delgada.

The initiative brings together four key figures directly involved in the constitutional process—Américo Natalino Viveiros, Jaime Gama, João Bosco Mota Amaral, and Rúben Raposo—who will share firsthand accounts of their work five decades ago in drafting the country’s foundational legal document. Special emphasis will be placed on the Azorean contribution to the constitutional recognition of regional autonomy.

Moderated by José Lopes de Araújo, the session will offer a reflection on the political climate of the time, the challenges faced during the work of the Constituent Assembly’s 8th Committee, and the positions taken by Azorean representatives at a decisive moment in securing constitutional autonomy for both the Azores and Madeira.

The event will also be attended by the President of the Azorean Legislative Assembly, Luís Garcia, and the President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, along with a broad range of political leaders, academics, and civil society representatives from across the region.

The session stands as a tribute to the deputies elected in 1975 from the districts of Angra do Heroísmo, Horta, and Ponta Delgada, recognizing their role in shaping Portugal’s democratic system and their lasting contribution to one of the most significant milestones in the nation’s constitutional history.

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.