Vice-President leaves post-2028 options open, rejects any understanding with Chega, and insists coalition with PSD remains committed to governing until the end of the mandate
ANGRA DO HEROÍSMO — The political future of the governing coalition in the Azores has become one of the central topics of regional debate following recent comments by PSD/Açores leader and Regional Government President José Manuel Bolieiro suggesting that the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM pre-electoral coalition may not continue beyond 2028.
In an extensive interview with Diário Insular, Regional Vice-President and CDS-PP/Açores leader Artur Lima responded to the controversy by reaffirming his party’s commitment to governmental stability while simultaneously emphasizing that the CDS intends to preserve its political autonomy and freedom of action beyond the current legislative term.
Lima stated that he was surprised by Bolieiro’s remarks, noting that no prior discussion had taken place regarding such declarations. Nevertheless, he stressed that the coalition agreement signed in 2020 was always based on a fundamental principle: that none of the participating parties would surrender its political identity. For the CDS leader, a coalition is not a merger, and each party retains the right to express its own political views while remaining loyal to the governing program.
Throughout the interview, Lima sought to distinguish between his relationship with José Manuel Bolieiro and what he described as broader dynamics within the PSD. While repeatedly expressing confidence in the Regional Government President and describing their relationship as one of mutual loyalty, he suggested that certain sectors within the PSD are uncomfortable sharing power with coalition partners and would prefer to govern alone. He argued that some voices within the party have never fully accepted the coalition arrangement that brought the PSD back to government after twenty-four years of Socialist rule.
The comments offer a revealing glimpse into the political calculations already underway as parties begin looking beyond the current mandate. Although regional elections remain some distance away, the debate over future alliances has clearly intensified.
One of the interview’s most significant political messages concerns the CDS’s position after the expiration of the current agreement. Lima made it clear that once the coalition reaches its conclusion, the party will not consider itself automatically tied to the PSD. Any future decision, he said, will depend on electoral results, political circumstances, and deliberations within the party’s governing bodies.
That position has attracted particular attention because Lima openly acknowledged the possibility that the CDS could support either a PSD-led or a PS-led government, depending on the outcome of future elections.
While such statements generated criticism from some political quarters, Lima argued that they merely reflect the historical tradition of the CDS as an independent political force capable of negotiating with different democratic parties when doing so serves the interests of the Azores. He pointed to previous agreements and legislative initiatives negotiated with both PSD and PS administrations over the years, arguing that pragmatism has always been part of the CDS political culture.
If there was one area in which the CDS leader left no room for ambiguity, it was his position regarding Chega.
Lima repeatedly stated that the CDS would not participate in any governing arrangement, parliamentary understanding, or political agreement involving Chega. He described the party as extremist and populist and insisted that its political approach is fundamentally incompatible with the values and traditions of the CDS. According to Lima, any future coalition formula involving Chega would automatically exclude CDS participation.
The issue is especially relevant given the increasingly fragmented nature of Azorean politics, where coalition-building and parliamentary agreements have become essential elements of governance. As parties prepare for future electoral contests, questions concerning possible governing majorities are likely to remain at the center of political discussion.
Beyond coalition politics, the interview also addressed one of the most debated public policy issues currently facing the Region: the future organization of healthcare services and the recurring discussion surrounding the concept of a central hospital.
Lima firmly rejected the idea of concentrating hospital services in a single institution, regardless of whether such a facility would be located in São Miguel, Terceira, or Faial. He argued that the geographic realities of an archipelago require a healthcare system built upon complementarity and redundancy rather than centralization.
According to the Vice-President, the Regional Health Service must continue relying on the existing network of hospitals operating in São Miguel, Terceira, and Faial, each serving a distinct but complementary role within the broader healthcare structure. He warned that excessive concentration of services would create additional burdens for patients, increase travel costs, and reduce resilience during periods of transportation disruption caused by weather conditions that frequently affect inter-island travel.
The discussion also touched upon accusations of regional favoritism that have frequently accompanied Lima’s political career. Rejecting the characterization, he argued that advocating for balanced development across all islands should not be interpreted as defending narrow local interests. Instead, he maintained that one of the central challenges facing the Autonomous Region remains the need to avoid excessive concentration of resources and decision-making power.
Despite the tensions generated by recent political developments, Lima’s overall assessment of the coalition government remained positive. He pointed to the exceptional challenges faced since 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflicts, inflationary pressures, and economic uncertainty. In his view, maintaining governmental stability through those crises represents one of the coalition’s most important accomplishments.
He also highlighted several social measures implemented during the current administration, including programs directed at senior citizens and expanded childcare support, arguing that these initiatives demonstrate the practical value of coalition governance even in the absence of a stable parliamentary majority.
For now, both the PSD and CDS remain publicly committed to completing the current mandate. Yet the interview illustrates how discussions about the post-2028 political landscape have already begun.
Whether the current coalition ultimately survives beyond the next election remains uncertain. What is increasingly clear is that the CDS intends to enter that debate from a position of political independence, preserving its ability to negotiate with democratic parties while drawing a firm line against cooperation with Chega.
As the Azores move closer to the next electoral cycle, questions surrounding coalition politics, governmental stability, and the future balance of power within the Regional Parliament are likely to become even more prominent. Artur Lima’s interview suggests that while the current government remains intact, the conversation about what follows has already begun.
This Novidades news-analysis piece is based on an interview conducted by journalist Helena Fagundes and published in Diário Insular. Novidades acknowledges the reporting of Helena Fagundes and the editorial leadership of José Lourenço, Director of Diário Insular, whose work continues to contribute to informed public debate in the Azores.
