The Azorean Diaspora Council (CDA) was created in July, 2019, by unanimous decision of the Azorean parliament.
It is a consultative body of the Regional Government which is aimed at hearing the Azoreans and their descendants who reside outside the Region on matters of common interest.
It does not replace the Azorean diaspora’s associative movement’s indispensable mission, much less the Azores Houses’ institutional contribution, but it adds another voice to this joint effort.
It meets ordinarily every two years, under the chairmanship of the President of the Government.
It encompasses 35 members including especially 19 councillors chosen by the Azorean diaspora itself through the voting areas of Bermuda (1), Brazil (5), Canada (5), United States of America (5), Uruguay (1), Portuguese mainland and of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (1), and the rest of the world (1).
These councillors’ election for a four-year term takes place through the digital platform Açorianos no Mundo.
During 17 months, from November 2019 to March 2021, all the Azoreans or their descendants residing outside the nine islands were able to get registered on this platform. About 600 got enrolled, half of which in the past three months.
From all those enrolled, those who wished to run for Azorean Diaspora Councillor were able to submit their applications from April 1 to April 10 and make their aims known to all the others enrolled in each candidate’s geographical area from April 15 to May 15.
40 applications were submitted and validated in all the 19 voting areas.
The votes by those registered in every area also occur at this platform. Voting starts on May 20 and ends on May 24, the Azores Day.
The establishment of the Council of the Azorean Diaspora with the inauguration of the elected councillors will take place on the symbolic date of June 10, a day dedicated to the Portuguese communities.
After concluding this first voting procedure, we will reopen the possibility of registration on this platform, so we can continue mapping the Azoreans in the world.
For now, congratulations to everyone: those who have gotten registered and those who have applied.
Regardless of the voting results, they have already demonstrated that both of them are interested in keeping and strengthening their link with the Azores.
And that is the most important.
Thank you!
José Andrade
Regional Director for the Communities
Ponta Delgada, April 25, 2021