EUROPEAN BRIEF

Created: 1/26/1976

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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a. PORTUGAL-AZORES: RECENT CONCESSIONS BY THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT ON AZOREAN AUTONOMY APPEAR TO HAVE FURTHER RELAXED POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE ISLANDS AND TO HAVE STRENGTHENED LOCAL LLADERS MHO fAVOR AUTONOMY. OVER INDEPENDENCE- V

THEECISION TO REVISE ITS DECEMBER lb DECREE LAU ON LOCAL AUTONOMY UAS-THE RESULT OF TALKS HELD ONITH MEMBERS OF THE AZOREAN REGIONAL JUNTA

THE GOVERNMENT HADE KEY CONCESSIONS WHEN IT DELEGATED

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MINISTERIAL LEVEL POWERS TO THE ISLAND'SNT a* andOMPROMISE PROPOSAL THAT JUNTA MEMBERS BE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL of MINISTERS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE JUNTA PRESIDENT. v

THE JUNTA WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN REGIONAL PLANNING BODY AND TO SUBMIT ITS OWN BUDGET FOR APPROVAL IN LISBON- THE REVISED LAU GIVES THEAJOR VOICE IN DECISIONS AFFECTING THE AZORES* BUT IT SPECIFICIALLY EXEMPTS FROM JUNTA AUTHORITY SUCH GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS AS MONETARY AND FISCALEFENSE ANDND JUSTICE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. v

THE DECREE LAWEMPORARY EXPEDIENT TO SATISFY AZOREAN ASPIRATIONS WHICH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL PASSAGETATUTE OF AUTONOMY FOR THE AZORES- THIS WEEK THE JUNTA BEGAN REVISIONSRAFT STATUTE WHICH WILL BE FORWARDED TO LISBON FOR ITS APPROVAL-ACCEPTANCE by THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL WILL GIVE THE STATUTE THE FORCE OF LAW - v

ALTHOUGH TENSIONS OVER THE AUTONOMY-INDEPENDENCE QUESTION APPEAR TO BE SUBSIDING, THEREOSSIBILITY OF DISCONTENT

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OVER ECONOMICSERIOUS SHORTAGES OF flEAT AND PRODUCE IN PORTUGAL- AZOREANS FEAR* COULD SOON HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE LOCAL MARKET* WHICH UP TO NOW HAS LARGELY BEEN SPARED THE ECONOMIC DISLOCATIONS AFFECTING THE MAINLAND-

3- PORTUGAL: DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN LAST WEEKEW POLITICAL PACT BETWEEN THE PORTUGUESE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PARTIES OVER THE ROLE EACH WILL PLAYEVISED GOVERNMENT. THE DRAFT AGREEMENT PRESENTED BY THE MILITARY HAS ALREADY COME UNDER SHARP ATTACK FROM DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS FOR RETAINING TOO MUCH POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE ALL-MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL- V

THE SOCIALISTS* WHO POLLED THE MOST VOTES IN THE ELECTION LAST APRIL* HELD THEIR FIRST ROUND OF TALKS WITH MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEDNESDAYS THE TALKS CONTINUED OVER THE WEEKEND* THE PACE OF NEGOTIATIONS WILL HAVE TO PICK UP* HOWEVER* IF THE CONSTITUENT IASSEM8LY IS TO COMPLETE ITS WORK IN TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE 9COUNCIL'S PROMISE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BY

WHILE THE MILITARY PROPOSAL APPEARS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE PARTIES IN ITS PRESENT FORM* IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE

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AGREEMENT SIGNED LAST APRIL THAT ASSURED THE MILITARY VIRTUAL CONTROL OF PORTUGUESE POLITICS FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS- THE REVISED VERSION, FOR INSTANCE, CALLS FOR THE DIRECT ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE ARMED FORCES GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN IN DIRECT COMPETITION UITH THE ELECTED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY- V

THE SOCIALISTS, POPULAR DEMOCRATIC* AUD SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC CENTTR PARTIES HOPE TO RESTRICT THE COUNCIL TO AN ADVISORYE ALREADY SIGNALED THEIR INTENTION TO REJECT THE MILITARY'S PROPOSAL! THAT THE COUNCIL BE GRANTED THE POWER TO: V

PRESIDENTIAL ^NOMINATIONS FOR PRIME MINISTER',ON ALL CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE THE COURTS AND ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS*!!

VETO BILLS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DEALINGENERAL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, FINANCIAL, FOREIGN, OR DEFENSE POLICY.

THE COMMUNISTS AND THEIR ALLIES, ON THE OTHER HAND, WANT THE ARMED FORCES TO RETAIN THE UPPER HAND IN THE LISBON GOVERNMENT, INBELIEF THAT COMMUNIST INFLUENCE CONTINUES TO BE GREATER IN THE

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OPERATIONAL GROUP IN THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL CLAIMS THE PACT HAS NOT FORMALLY APPROVED* AND THE "OPERATIONALS" AND CIVILIAN POLITICIANS MAY NOU WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE DRAFT AND AT THE SAME TIME LIMIT THE INFLUENCE OF THE POLITICALLY ORIENTED OFFICERS LIttE ANTUNES

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Original document.

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