The new deal with the Portuguese central state means no loss of autonomy for the regional government of the Azores, according to comments from its president, Carlos César.

Declaring the agreement was all about effective and efficient modern budgetary management, César said that “contrary to what is being stated, there has been no loss of autonomy because we lost no competences.”

Adding that this was about effective state management, César went on to make a robust defence of the financial position of the Azores.

Pointing out that international bodies, from the IMF to Eurostat, had all backed the archipelago’s financial sustainability, the regional president added: “our debt is 11% of GDP while the direct national debt of the country is over 100%.”

César further added that the new level of budgetary integration needed to be matched across the different levels and functions of government and not only at the national state level but also in terms of the European Union before advocating a federal structure for the continent.

“There is absolutely no reason for Europe not to understand that its own future, its power and its status depend on the kind of organisation the United States has,” César concluded.

(Photograph: Partido Socialista. All Rights Reserved)