The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, will travel to Madeira from July 17 to 20 to participate in the official celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, reinforcing the historic partnership between Portugal’s two autonomous archipelagos at a milestone that highlights half a century of self-government.
Invited by the President of Madeira’s Legislative Assembly, Rubina Leal, Garcia will represent the Azorean Parliament at the Solemn Commemorative Session on July 19 in the Noble Hall of the Madeiran Parliament in Funchal. The ceremony will honor five decades of regional autonomy through tributes to former members of the Legislative Assembly, addresses by parliamentary leaders, a message from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and reflections on Madeira’s autonomous journey since 1976.
The visit carries particular symbolic significance as both the Azores and Madeira commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Regional Autonomy in 2026, offering an opportunity not only to celebrate the constitutional achievements that transformed the governance of Portugal’s Atlantic islands but also to strengthen institutional ties between the two regional parliaments.
Beyond the official commemorations, Garcia’s agenda reflects a broader vision of parliamentary modernization and innovation.
On July 17, he and ALRAA Secretary-General Sandra Costa will visit the University of Madeira to learn about KBAI, a Funchal-based company specializing in semantic artificial intelligence and knowledge management systems. The meeting will highlight an ongoing collaboration between KBAI and the Azorean Parliament aimed at developing an artificial intelligence platform capable of assisting parliamentary work by providing precise, traceable answers to questions concerning legislative activity.
The presentation will also showcase Madeira’s growing innovation ecosystem, bringing together representatives from Startup Madeira, ARDITI (Regional Agency for Research, Technology and Innovation Development), the eGames Lab—a strategic project funded through Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan that includes Azorean partners—and Madeira’s RIS3 Smart Specialization Strategy.
Additional participants will include companies collaborating with KBAI and the University of Madeira in building a regional innovation cluster focused on artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, as well as Professor Eduardo Férme, a leading researcher in artificial intelligence whose academic work is closely linked to KBAI’s technological initiatives.
Later that morning, Luís Garcia will be received in an official audience by Rubina Leal, President of Madeira’s Legislative Assembly, further reinforcing the institutional relationship between the two autonomous legislatures.
The official commemorations on July 19 will conclude with a solemn Mass at Funchal Cathedral, presided over by the Bishop of Funchal, honoring members of Madeira’s Legislative Assembly who have passed away during the past fifty years.
Garcia’s visit will end on July 20 with a meeting at the House of the Azores in Madeira, an institution that has long played an important role in preserving Azorean identity on the island while fostering closer cultural and historical ties between the two Atlantic archipelagos. The meeting will take place at the IDEIA Center for Research and Information on Autonomy, highlighting the enduring relationship between Madeira and the Azores and their shared commitment to strengthening Portugal’s autonomous regions.
As both archipelagos celebrate half a century of self-government, the visit underscores more than a commemorative anniversary. It reaffirms the enduring value of regional autonomy as a democratic achievement that has empowered island communities to shape their own futures while strengthening their place within Portugal and Europe. The shared celebration serves as a reminder that, despite the ocean separating them, the Azores and Madeira continue to be united by common aspirations, institutions, and a lasting commitment to the principles of political and administrative autonomy.
Based on a Press Release. Photo from the ALRAA.
