 During this process Ponta Delgada did not change, and remained defined by the two eastern islands and islets of the Formigas.During the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar the region obtained autonomy as a district, especially after 1940.Following the "Hot Summer" of 1975, a protest in the centre of Ponta Delgada, comprising property-owners and farmers challenged the government of António Borges Coutinho, who was charged with implementing land reforms after the Carnation Revolution.