José Manuel Bolieiro, who cast his vote in the parish of Fajã de Baixo in Ponta Delgada, urged for a “strong mobilization in the interest of the country” and the need for a “decision for governability”.
“The country needs a Government. It is beneficial for the people, for the economy, and for solidarity that the State ensures governance capacity beyond mere management for the development of Portugal,” stated the Azorean Executive leader to journalists.
The head of the Azorean Executive, a coalition of PSD/CDS-PP/PPM, emphasized that the Azores “also need a stable Government in the country as it also helps stability in the Azores”.
Bolieiro acknowledged that the frequent visits to the polls might discourage voters and increase abstention because “there are elections after elections outside the appropriate timeframe”, hence the “value of stability”. He expressed hope that “a decision by the people will allow for governability and stability to complete the mandate from beginning to end”.
According to José Manuel Bolieiro, the “exercise of democracy in public functions also requires reputation”, which “is also under evaluation at this moment in the world, in Europe, and in Portugal”.
Today, 230,305 voters from the Azores are being called to the polls, which is more than in 2024 when 230,082 were registered to elect five candidates for deputies representing the autonomous region.
In the elections of March 2024, the coalition PSD/CDS-PP/PPM won in the Azorean electoral circle, with 39.84% of the votes from 106,273 voters, electing two deputies. This was followed by PS with 29.18% and two deputies, and Chega with 15.76% of the votes (one deputy).
Polling stations will remain open until 19:00 on the mainland and in Madeira, while in the Azores, they open and close one hour later than Lisbon time due to the time difference.
In total, 230 deputies will be elected across 22 electoral circles—18 of which are on mainland Portugal, with the rest in the Azores, Madeira, Europe, and outside Europe—at an electoral event that will cost approximately 26.5 million euros.
There are 21 political forces competing in these elections, three more than in the elections of March of last year.
