As the Azores mark fifty years of democratic local government, the President of the Azorean Parliament, Luís Garcia, called for deeper cooperation between local and regional authorities, arguing that the future development of the archipelago depends on their ability to work together in a spirit of partnership and shared responsibility.
Speaking in Ponta Delgada at the opening session of the conference “The Architecture of Local Government,” organized by the National Association of Municipal Assemblies (ANAM), Garcia reflected on the unique relationship between proximity, representation, and decision-making that has shaped the democratic experience of the Azores since the restoration of democracy in Portugal.
“The history of the Azores is, in many respects, the history of proximity transformed into the capacity to decide,” he said, emphasizing the important role that local government has played in the social, economic, and civic development of the islands.
The conference took place during a year of special significance, as Portugal and the Azores commemorate five decades of democratic local government. Garcia used the occasion to pay tribute to generations of municipal and parish leaders who have worked to improve the lives of their communities, often serving as the first point of contact between citizens and public institutions.
“Many times, before any other institution, it is the local elected official whom people turn to first,” he noted, describing proximity as one of the defining strengths of democratic governance.
For Garcia, that close relationship between citizens and local authorities must be complemented by stronger collaboration between municipalities, parish councils, and the Regional Government. He argued that local and regional development should not be viewed as separate objectives but as interconnected responsibilities.
“The progress of a parish is not only a local cause; it is also a regional mission,” he stated.
The Speaker highlighted the importance of the legal framework governing technical and financial cooperation between the Government of the Azores and parish councils, while suggesting that future reforms should continue to strengthen those partnerships.
Particular attention was given to the ongoing debate surrounding Portugal’s Local Finance Law. Garcia argued that any revision of the legislation must recognize the unique realities of the Autonomous Regions and account for the permanent challenges associated with insularity and ultraperipheral status.
He stressed that financing models designed primarily for mainland Portugal do not always reflect the geographic, demographic, and economic realities faced by Azorean municipalities and parish councils.
Recognizing the significance of the issue, Garcia recalled that the Azorean Legislative Assembly had already established a dedicated working group to examine reforms to the Local Finance Law. That group has produced a series of proposals aimed at creating what he described as “a fairer, stronger, and more appropriate financing model for Azorean local governments.”
The concerns of the Azorean Parliament were also conveyed directly to the President of the National Association of Municipal Assemblies during a formal meeting held prior to the conference. The discussion focused on the need to ensure that future national reforms adequately reflect the distinctive circumstances of local government in the Azores.
As the archipelago reflects on fifty years of democratic local government, Garcia’s remarks underscored a broader theme that has shaped Azorean autonomy since its creation: that effective governance depends not only on institutions but also on cooperation between different levels of government working toward common goals.
In a region where geography often presents unique challenges, strengthening the partnership between local and regional authorities remains, in Garcia’s view, an essential component of sustainable development and democratic vitality for the decades ahead.
Translated and adapted from a Press Release. Photos from the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores.