“This social pact, including the Republic’s Government and the Azores Government, must also engage educational communities, local authorities, and other entities to launch transformative initiatives aimed at strengthening education and boosting the qualification indices of Azoreans,” stated Francisco César.
He spoke in Ponta Delgada during the closing session of the PS/Azores Municipal Conference.
Addressing an audience of candidates and local government officials, the socialist leader challenged them to collaborate on establishing an “ambitious social pact” for education.
“I am well aware that many of our socialist local officials have implemented various support measures for students in their municipalities, but we need to work together. We require more policies that ensure true educational support, combat school dropout rates, and secure a dignified future for everyone,” he emphasized.
Francisco César clarified that the intention is not to burden local officials with more work but to provide each participant with the “appropriate financial compensation.”
The PS/Azores leader further highlighted that combatting poverty and dependencies should not continue to be ignored in the Azores.
“The risk of poverty rate in our region is alarming, and regarding dependencies, we are on red alert. Chronic alcoholism and the consumption of psychoactive substances are destroying lives, while institutional responses are deteriorating,” he noted.
Francisco César, who is once again leading the PS list for the anticipated legislative elections on May 18th for the Azores electoral circle, committed to bringing the issue back to the National Assembly.
“We will bring this matter back to the National Assembly, as we have done in the past, proposing a joint detailed study on the evolution of dependencies in the autonomous regions, considering new addictive behaviors,” he stated.
The regional PS leader justified his candidacy for reelection to the National Assembly by emphasizing the need to defend the interests of the Azores during a “crucial mandate for the region.”
“This way, I can act in two complementary arenas: in the National Assembly and the archipelago. I will continue to be in the Azores, as I always have been, listening to people, closely following the challenges of our land, and working with everyone who wants the best for the Azoreans,” he assured.
The socialist leader used the extraordinary constitutional revision and the revision of the Law on the Finances of the Autonomous Regions as examples of relevant issues for the Azores that could be discussed in the National Assembly during the next term.
He also highlighted the financial situation of the Azores, arguing that it will demand responsibility from the region, but also “the help of the Republic’s Government.”
“We have a huge problem, a structural imbalance in our accounts,” he stressed, recalling that in 2024, the public debt of the region increased by 88.5 million euros.
Francisco César accused the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition of being responsible for increasing the region’s debt by 900 million euros over four and a half years of governance, and having delayed payments to families, companies, associations, and local authorities.
“Part of the expense is not being covered through public debt; it is being borne exclusively by suppliers and those who have worked for the Regional Government,” he criticized.
