History Political status of the Azores

1 history

1.1 carnation revolution
1.2 autonomy
1.3 revisions

history
carnation revolution

the carnation revolution took place on april 25, 1974, , after initial period of shock, became nucleus social , political movements. 1 of first parties develop in azores popular democratic party (partido popular democrata, ppd), led in azores joão bosco soares de mota amaral. ppd, later known social democratic party (partido social democrata, psd), gained support of catholic church , positioned party of rural-suburban populace , middle upper classes. remaining parties support intellectual class , disenfranchised youth, , not able gain popularity in rural communities. important question after revolution status of portugal s colonies. ppd supported autonomy azores , madeira decolonization portugal s other colonies (there small communities of azoreans living in colonies).

in may 1974, shortly after ppd formed, outlined stance on insular autonomy in declaration of principles. during media conference in ponta delgada on november 8, 1974, mota amaral , ppd presented basic ideas of political-administrative statute of autonomous region of azores. in proposal, ppd outlined aspirations archipelago become autonomous region within portuguese republic, first defined regional planning commission (comissão de planeamento regional) , governed elected regional assembly. in initial document, general councils (juntas gerais) , executive commissions formed after carnation revolution maintained. document introduced idea regional capital of azores rotate between archipelago s 3 former district capitals: ponta delgada, angra heroísmo, , horta.

taking advantage of new liberties, intellectual descendants of old autonomous movement, movement autonomy of azorean people (movimento para autonomia povo açoriano, mapa), presented own proposals on january 26, 1975, proposed same changes presented aristides moreira da mota, on march 31, 1892. engineer deodato magalhães de sousa, president of regional planning commission, presented own ideas on january 3, 1975, retained old district systems while consolidating within regional structure. position adopted group of influential intellectuals, included magalhães de sousa, in proposal referred project of group of eleven (projecto grupo dos onze), publicly popular, excluded independent system of health , education (which continue outlined in march 2, 1895 decree).

meetings between existing rural-urban groups, , later first insular conference (which included representatives madeira) held in angra heroísmo on march 1–2, 1975, made in order find equilibrium permit development of azores. failure of right-wing coup on march 11, 1975 in lisbon initiated in portugal period known ongoing revolutionary process (processo revolucionário em curso), , in azores there signs of instability. in environment, elections constituent assembly held on april 25, 1975. ppd received 62.7% of votes, , socialist party (partido socialista, ps) received 28.4%. meanwhile, instability aggravated separatist protests , surge of azorean liberation front (frente de libertação dos açores, fla). these movements grew after april 1975 meeting in angra, envisioned creation of province of azores (província dos açores), , abolition of general councils. plan never debated. on june 6, 1975 protest took place in ponta delgada on situation of local farmers, turned pro-independence rally called resignation of civil governor, antónio borges coutinho. protesters occupied regional broadcaster, airport , principal infrastructures on island of são miguel until governor resigned. instances of violence grew, including use of explosives , arrest of affluent citizens detained in angra.

instead of proposed models of civil government, military government, under portuguese army general altino de magalhães, installed. under these circumstances, debates on autonomy discontinued. in meeting held in lisbon between june 25–26, 1975, proposal creation of governing council of azores (junta governativa dos açores), substitute civil government , general councils debated. meetings included several azorean representatives , resulted in decree-law n.º 458-b/75 on august 22, established political entities of archipelago. regional council of azores (junta regional dos açores), created on august 22, 1975 , assumed functions in september. composed of representatives political movements @ time, , presided on military governor, general altino de magalhães. in meantime, economy had collapsed , emigration united states , canada grew significantly. decree-law altered on february 2 (n.º 100/76) in order reinforce regional council of azores , permit consolidation of regional powers.

on april 25, 1975, constituent assembly elected draft new constitution portugal. there, delegates presented ideas title vii of new portuguese constitution, included provision statute on atlantic islands. in october 1975, in environment of great tension , motivated attacks on headquarters of leftist parties, expulsion of militants, azorean liberation front presented principles, defended complete independence of azores.

the ink still wet on title vii of constitution, when, in december 1975, junta regional presented counter-proposal political-administrative statute of autonomous region of azores, detailed in january 1976, , adapted portugal s revoluation council (conselho da revolução) in march 1976. discussions on proposals made during 8th commission on title vii, made in heated environment marked lack of trust , continued fears of separatist attacks. in environment, portuguese communist party (partido comunista português, pcp) presented more restricted proposal in march 1976. parliamentary debate proceeded on 18, 20, 24-26 of march 1976, accusations autonomy principal step on eventual independence of regions. modified language approved on march 26.

autonomy

the new constitution of portuguese republic approved on april 2, 1976, giving political autonomy azores, , formalizing regional statute in decree-law n.º 318-b/76 (april 30, 1976). first elections legislative assembly of azores occurred on june 27, 1976, when separatist tensions , violence had abated. elections realized in accordance decree-law n.º 318-c/76 (june 30). ppd won these first elections , remain in power in successive elections until 1996. seats in first parliament divided: ppd won 27, ps won 14, , democratic , social centre – people s party (centro democrático e social – partido popular) won 2. 1st regional legislature had first session in city of horta on july 21, 1976, , inaugurated president of republic general ramalho eanes in solemn ceremony. in ceremony in ponta delgada, on september 8, 1976, , in presence of representative of republic general galvão de figueiredo, president joão bosco soares da mota amaral began duties, , initiated constitutional autonomy of azores.

revisions

the current autonomy definition is, despite quite substantial changes between 1987 , 1998, first comprehensive 1 approved under conditions of 1976 constitution. vote, ostensibly consensus of major parties of portugal, led, nonetheless, war of flags , took form of series of serious protocol incidents between regional , national officials in general display of ill-feeling. overcome passage of time , consolidation of autonomy. despite this, there still question of whether azorean citizens living outside azores (in brazil, united states, or continental europe) should have same voting rights other citizens of islands.

the current statute replaced provisional status had been granted, @ time of carnation revolution legislative decree 318-b/76 of 30 april, later amended 427-d/76 of 1 june.

the concept of region (which has since evolved autonomous region ), replaces previous system of 3 distinct districts (ponta delgada, angra heroísmo, , horta). established under auspices of regional planning authority (established decree 48905 of 11 march 1969, shortly after overthrow of salazar dictatorship). embryonic concept of unitary region codified legislative decree 458-b/75 of 22 august, helped create concept of regional administration , legislature, text subsequently amended legislative decree 100/76 of 3 february.

passage of these regional autonomy measures direct result of revolution of 25 april, fruits of seeds planted long ago when movement toward regional self-government begun. outline of these principals contained in decree of 2 march 1895, promulgated @ urging of azorean, ernesto hintze ribeiro, prime minister of portugal.