Insurance recalls Dionysius Sousa as “studious and defender” of the Azores

O President of the Republic, António José Seguro, said today that he learned of the death of Dionysius Sousa, former president of the parliament of the Azores, with regret and reminds the “studious and defender” of autonomy.

“ It was with regret that the President of the Republic took note of the death of Dionysio Mendes de Sousa, former president of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores”, reads a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.

António José Seguro states that the “teacher and man of culture, Dionysio Mendes de Sousa dedicated much of his life to the public cause”.

“ Member of the Legislative Assembly over more than two decades and president of that governing body of the region itself, actively participated in the construction and consolidation of Azorean parliamentary democracy ", noted.

The head of state also mentioned that Dionysius Sousa was “studious and defender of autonomy, to which he dedicated reflection and published work, he was able to understand it as a conquest of Portuguese democracy and expression of the identity of the Azoreans, a heritage that belongs to everyone to preserve and deepen”.

“ In this moment of regret, the President of the Republic presents to his family and friends the most heartfelt condolences, associating with the mourning of the Legislative Assembly and all Azoreans”, reads the note.

The former president of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores Dionysius Sousa died today, at the age of 86, revealed the current president of the Azorean parliament, Luís Garcia, highlighting his “path of dedication to the public cause and to the autonomous institutions”.

Born in the parish of São Sebastião on Terceira Island, Dionysio Sousa graduated in philosophy and was a secondary school teacher.

He was a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1980 and 2004 and held the presidency of the parliamentary group of the PS between 1982 and 1992.

In 1996, he became the first socialist deputy to take over the presidency of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, which he held until 1998.

Dionysius Sousa was also president of the PS/Açores and integrated several party bodies at regional and national level, having actively participated in the local life of Angra do Heroísmo.

It was also highlighted by the publication of articles in newspapers and works dedicated to the history and evolution of autonomy.

In 2014, he published “Axis sobre a Autonomia” and, in 2017, “Autonomia – 40 Years: Omens and Perspectives”, which he wrote with the former presidents of the Legislative Assembly Álvaro Monjardino and José Guilherme Reis Leite.

He received the Grand Cross of the Order of Infante D. Henrique in 2001 and the Autonomic Insignia of Valor in 2006.