Madeira Introduces new regional holiday: autonomy day Set for 2nd April
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Madeira has officially approved Autonomy Day as a new regional public holiday, celebrated on 2nd April. The decision highlights the historical significance of the region’s autonomy and marks a key milestone for the Madeiran people.
Madeira marks a historic milestone with autonomy day celebration
The new holiday was unanimously approved on 27th November by the Legislative Assembly of Madeira and formally enacted after review by the Republic’s representative, Ireneu Barreto. This marks the third regional holiday for Madeira, alongside:
- 1st July: Region day, celebrating the discovery of Madeira (since 1979).
- 26th December: A regional holiday established in 2002.
The choice of 2nd April pays homage to the approval of the 1976 Portuguese Constitution, which officially recognised Madeira and the Azores as autonomous regions with self-governing bodies.
Why autonomy day matters: Celebrating Madeira’s self-governance
The Commission for the Celebrations of 50 Years of Autonomy explained that the date symbolises a centuries-long aspiration finally realised. Autonomy Day will:
- Commemorate the constitutional recognition of regional autonomy.
- Highlight Madeira’s political, economic, and cultural progress since 1976.
- Honour the achievements of both Madeira and Porto Santo under self-governance.
The commission, backed by all parliamentary parties, described the holiday as a reminder of the profound transformations autonomy has brought to the region.
The unanimous approval of Autonomy Day reflects strong political consensus across Madeira’s parliament. In his remarks, Ireneu Barreto noted that this is not the first time Madeira has embraced regional holidays, affirming the symbolic and cultural value of such commemorations.
With 2nd April now etched into Madeira’s calendar, the island region celebrates both its past achievements and its future as an autonomous region of Portugal.
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