PORTUGAL’S PRESIDENT made the unprecedented step of addressing the nation last week to convey his opposition to proposed changes in regional government laws in the Azores which could dilute the Head of State’s powers.
The changes outlined in the Political-Administrative Statute for the Governance of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, which have been thrown out by the Portuguese Constitutional Court, Tribunal Constitucional, could have limited presidential powers enshrined in ordinary laws and increased decision-making at local level.
In practice it would have created a precedent whereby the Azores and Madeira could appoint their own governors, ministers and administrative officials without recourse to the Portuguese President.
In other words, it could have represented another step on the road towards political and administrative independence from the mainland.
The decision to appear on national television in a broadcast direct from the official presidential residence, the Palácio de Belém, on Thursday evening, will come as a political blow to the already damaged unity between the Prime Minister and his ruling PS party and the PSD President.
The statute, which had been ironically approved by the Portuguese parliament, is similar to the powers granted to Scotland and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom which could ultimately lead to full devolution and the disintegration of the union.
Presidential powers
Similarly, the President fears the legal statute changes, had he approved them, would have opened the door to Madeira and the Azores being independent in all but name, even enabling them to do away with the Portuguese President and appointing their own Head of State.
At present, the President of the Republic has, under Article 133 of the Portuguese Constitution, the power to ‘dissolve the organs of government in the Portuguese autonomous regions’ (Madeira and the Azores) and similarly ‘nominate and appoint (Portuguese republic) ministers to the autonomous regions.’
“Under the terms of the Constitution, the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores can be dissolved by the President of the Republic,” he said.
“I believe it is fundamentally dangerous on a point of principle to allow the separation and interdependence of powers,” he warned.
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