The President of the Government stated today that Autonomy is one of the "great success stories of democracy in Portugal" for the development it has brought to the Azores and warned against the danger of defending the idea that the autonomic process failed in the Region.
 
"I fully disagree with the perspective that Autonomy has failed. The Autonomy of the Azores is one of the great success stories of democracy in Portugal" for the economic and social development it has guaranteed on each island, stressed Vasco Cordeiro.
 
Speaking at the Legislative Assembly during a debate on the state of the Region from a political, economic and social perspective, the President of the Government also warned that the idea that Autonomy failed contains in itself a "more serious problem and greater danger."
 
"One day, this idea of saying that Autonomy has failed might be disseminated nationwide and, then, we will truly have a problem," said Vasco Cordeiro before the members of the parliament.
 
At the debate, Vasco Cordeiro rejected the arguments of those defending that the economic development model failed in the Azores. In addition, this model has led the Region towards an unprecedented development in many different areas for over 40 years.
 
"It was this model that allowed the implementation of public investments on all islands, the allocation of public support to private investment, the establishment of partnerships with institutions in the social, cultural, sports areas. Furthermore, it contributed to major changes in our Region over the last 40 years, spanning from Education, Health and Economy to Agriculture, Fishing and Tourism, among other sectors," stressed the government official.
 
According to him, this economic model also allowed the Azores to show a good behaviour in recent times of crisis at economic and social level compared to other regions of the country.
 
"This is the economic development model that allows the Autonomous Region of the Azores to be the only one in the country that has converged with European averages for development in the last 15 years," said the President of the Government.
 
During the debate held at the Legislative Assembly, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the Azorean Government, despite being proud in the work already done, is "perfectly aware that not everything has worked out in the way it desired."
 
"We are perfectly aware that, for every challenge we have overcome, there are three or four new challenges arising. Nonetheless, instead of demoralising and discouraging us, they gives us more strength to continue," said the President of the Government.