Because of the lower life expectancy in the archipelago, the Regional Government of the Azores has declared that it will introduce a preliminary draft bill to lower the retirement age of Azoreans to 64 years and three months. The CDS-PP in the Azores has a long-standing effort to lower the retirement age, which is covered by the Regional Government Program.

The vice president of the executive branch of the Azores, Artur Lima, stated that the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) “approved the preliminary draft law that adapts the current formula for access to old-age pensions” in order to lower the retirement age in the area during the presentation of the Regional Government Council’s conclusions.

As Artur Lima explained, “We live about 2 years and 6 months less than a mainland person. We have a lower life expectancy at birth and lower life expectancy at 65 years of age”. As he added, “those who are benefiting from the discounts offered to Azoreans are the mainland citizens who live two years and six months longer”, recalling that the average life expectancy in the Azores has been “consistently and demonstrably below the national average”.

After passing the Regional Assembly, the draft bill will be presented to the Assembly of the Republic (AR). As Artur Lima stressed, “The first step is to be approved by the regional parliament. After being approved by the regional parliament, it will be sent to the AR and then requires approval”.