OE2026: Azorean Parliament gives positive opinion to the Government

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The Legislative Assembly of the Azores (ALRAA) issued this Tuesday a positive opinion, by majority, with votes in favor of the parties that govern the region (PSD, CDS-PP and PPM), on the proposed State Budget for 2026 (OE2026).

The opinion was voted on by seven of the eight parties with parliamentary seats in the Azores , since the IL representation “was consulted, but did not pronounce itself, nor issue an opinion”.

The parliamentary groups of the PSD and CDS-PP and the parliamentary representation of the PPM issued favorable opinions, while the parliamentary groups of the PS and Chega abstained. The parliamentary representations of the BE and PAN issued unfavorable opinions.

"The Permanent Specialized Committee on Economics decided, by majority, to give a favorable opinion to this initiative, with votes in favor of the PSD, CDS-PP and PPM, with abstentions from the PS and Chega, and with votes against from the BE and PAN", according to the opinion on the State Budget law for 2026, to which the Lusa news agency had access.

In the explanation of vote accompanying the committee's report, the PSD states that the proposal "strictly complies with the provisions of the Autonomous Regions' Finance Law , by providing for financial transfers to the Azores amounting to 341.1 million euros, which translates into an increase of 21.9 million compared to 2025."

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“In addition to this amount, there is an extraordinary transfer of 150 million euros, which aims to meet additional and specific financing needs for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) in the Autonomous Region of the Azores,” it indicates.

The PSD issued a favorable opinion “without, however, failing to demand a fair review of the Autonomous Regions Finance Law”.

The CDS-PP states that the proposal “reveals a positive development in terms of financial relations between the State and the Autonomous Region of the Azores , ensuring an overall increase in transfers, which exceed 490 million euros”.

"Of particular note is the extraordinary transfer of €150 million to meet financing needs related to the implementation of the RRP in the region. However, it is important to emphasize that this transfer, while welcome, should not become the rule," he adds.

The CDS-PP vote is favorable, "valuing the financial reinforcement achieved and simultaneously reaffirming the commitment to reviewing the Regional Finance Law, so that the future brings more stability, autonomy and predictability."

The Left Bloc justifies its vote against the proposal because it “completely omits fundamental investments for the region and, once again, does not promote any changes to the current Finance Law for the Autonomous Regions” .

“The transfer of 150 million euros to the Region […], intended for the implementation of PRR investments, constitutes a 'soft rescue' with little credible justification, the conditions of which are not explicit and without guarantees that this increase in transfers will be sustained over time, that is, that it will continue in the following years”, it reads.

The party highlights “the absence of any update on the State’s participation in inter-island public air transport service obligations, which have been frozen for several years.”

According to the State Budget proposal for 2026, the Azores will receive 341.1 million euros under the Autonomous Regions Finance Law, 21.9 million more than in 2025.

The Azores will receive 220,082,045 euros under article 48 of the Autonomous Regions Finance Law (budgetary transfers) and 121,045,125 euros under article 49 (cohesion fund for the outermost regions).

“Exceptionally and exclusively during the validity of this law,” 150 million euros will also be transferred to the region, “to meet additional and specific financing needs of the RRP of the Autonomous Region of the Azores,” the document reads.

The proposal also authorizes the region to contract debt funded “for debt consolidation and settlement of outstanding payments” up to a limit of 75 million euros.

The final global vote is scheduled for November 27, after the specialty debate process.