President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the island of Flores on Thursday and had planned to travel to the island of Corvo today, the smallest island of the archipelago. However, the trip was canceled due to adverse weather conditions affecting the region in recent hours.
The President of the Republic traveled on a Portuguese Air Force aircraft from the island of Flores to Faial, arriving at around 12:40 local time (one hour ahead in Lisbon).
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa left the Azorean island of Faial shortly after 14:35 local time (when the delegation arrived at the Horta airport), heading to Lisbon aboard the Portuguese Air Force Falcon aircraft.
The head of state had a two-day visit scheduled for the islands of the Western Group of the Azores (Flores and Corvo), which today included a trip to Corvo to visit the Wild Bird Interpretation Center and the interpretative itinerary “Manuel Carlos Jorge do Nascimento.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also intended to inaugurate the Wind Farm and visit the Photovoltaic Park in Corvo, located at Cerrado das Vacas, projects that are part of the “Renewable Corvo” initiative, which will enable the island to achieve energy self-sufficiency.
The Western Group of the Azores represents the westernmost boundary of Portugal and Europe.
“Despite accounting for less than 2% of the population of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, this island group assumes a decisive strategic importance in meteorological surveillance, energy transition, and the preservation of Atlantic biodiversity,” stated the Azorean executive in a note sent to Lusa agency.
The president of the Azorean Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, in a press release, described the presidential visit, which only fulfilled the program on the island of Flores, as “a gesture of closeness and recognition, which reinforces national cohesion and values the contribution of the Azores to the country.”
José Manuel Bolieiro also emphasized that Flores and Corvo “are territories of the future, symbols of sustainability and Atlantic affirmation, deserving the attention and respect of the State.”
The President of the Republic was accompanied on the visit by the leader of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, the Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Pedro Catarino, and the president of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia.
Since taking office as head of state for the first time in 2016, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has visited the Azores several times, including for official visits to various islands and for the 2018 Portugal Day celebrations, which began in Ponta Delgada and continued with Portuguese emigrants and descendants on the east coast of the United States.
