Autonomous Regions of Portugal

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Autonomous regions of Portugal
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Autonomous Region
Category1st-level administrative division
LocationPortugal
Created byPortuguese Republic Constitution
Created
  • 1976
Number2 (previously 3, 1976-1999)
Populations246,746 (Azores)
267,785 (Madeira)
Areas2,333 km2 (Azores)
801 km2 (Madeira)
Government
  • Regional Assembly
    Regional Government
    Representative of the Republic
Subdivisions

The two Autonomous Regions of Portugal from 1999 (Portuguese: Regiões Autónomas de Portugal) are the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores) and Madeira (Região Autónoma da Madeira). Together with Continental Portugal (Portugal Continental), they form the Portuguese Republic.

History

The autonomous regions were established in 1976 in the aftermath of the

handed over to China in 1999, leaving Portugal with two Autonomous Regions.[4]

Constitution

Although the regions are politically and administratively autonomous, the Portuguese constitution specifies both a regional and national connection, obliging their administrations to maintain democratic principles and promote regional interests, while still reinforcing national unity.[2] The third clause of article 255 of the Portuguese Constitution specifically points to maintenance of national integrity and sovereignty of the Portuguese State.[2]

Administration

As defined by the

legislative assembly (known as the Assembleia Regional). The assembly is elected by universal suffrage, using the D'Hondt method of proportional representation
.

Originally, the sovereignty of the Portuguese Republic was represented in each autonomous region by the Minister of the Republic (Ministro da República), proposed by the Government of the Republic and appointed by the President of the Republic. After the sixth amendment to the Portuguese Constitution was passed in 2006, the Minister of the Republic was replaced by a less-powerful Representative of the Republic (Representante da República) who is appointed by the President, after listening to the Government, but otherwise it is a presidential prerogative.

In Macau (an autonomous region from 1976 to 1999), the office of Governor (Governador de Macau) was uniquely preserved, and held powers equivalent to both the President of the Regional Executive and the President of the Regional Government in the Azores and Madeira, though the rest of the city’s political structure aligned with the other two autonomous regions.

The president of the regional executive (the Presidente do Governo Regional) is appointed by the Representative of the Republic according to the results of the election to the legislative assemblies.

Current Presidents of the Regional Executive:

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Autonomy of Madeira". www.visitmadeira.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  2. ^ a b c "Art.255", Constituição da República Portuguesa (PDF) (in Portuguese) (VII Revisão Constituicional ed.), Lisbon, Portugal, 2005, retrieved 5 August 2005{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Yee, Herbert S. Macau in Transition: From Colony to Autonomous Region.
  4. S2CID 154387482
    .