OE2027: Enough accuses Government of “treason to the Madeirans”

O member of the Arrivo in the Assembly of the Republic Francisco Gomes said today that the State Budget for 2027 is “a political fraud” and “a real betrayal of the Madeirans”, evidencing the “political contempt” of the Republic by Madeira.

“This Budget is a fraud and a betrayal of Madeira. Montenegro treats Madeirans as second-rate Portuguese. For propaganda and interests there are always millions, but when the time comes to solve the problems of Madeira, the government disappears. It is a shame and an insult to the Madeirans”, says the deputy elected by the circle of this autonomous region, in a statement.

Francisco Gomes considers that the budget proposal presented on Thursday by Minister Joaquim Morais Sarmento “ignors the structural problems of Madeira and perpetuates policies that penalize workers and families”.

“ It demonstrates the Republic’s political contempt for Madeira, leaving no answers to fundamental demands in the areas of mobility, security, taxation, agriculture and fisheries,” he said.

He stresses, on the proposal, the lack of solutions for the full implementation of the new model of territorial continuity approved by the parliament, which will establish that Madeira residents pay only the fixed value of air tickets in the act of purchase.

It also criticises the “lack of commitments for a regular ferry connection for passengers and round cargo, and the lack of measures for farmers and fishermen”.

“The government continues without complying with a law that allows Madeirans to stop advancing fortunes to travel. We have no ferry, we have no answers for farmers and fishermen and there is no serious strategy to defend our economy. This government demands everything from the Madeirans and does not give them back anything at all”, it maintains.

The lack of a plan to create a proper tax system in Madeira is another aspect mentioned by Francisco Gomes, arguing that it would be “an extraordinary opportunity for the region and for the country, allowing to attract investment, create wealth and prepare an alternative for the decadent Madeira Free Zone”.

“Madeira needs a fiscal revolution, not to remain attached to a decadent Free Zone. A tax system of its own would be excellent for Madeira and Portugal, but this government does not even have a vision to discuss the future ", reinforces.

It is also criticized the lack of answers “for safety, for professionals who want to return to the region or for facilities that are clearly degraded”.

In its reading, the PSD/CDS-PP executive (the same forces that govern the region) “continues to squeeze the Portuguese who work, promising a prosperity that never arrives”.

“This Budget is an exercise of political illusionism, based on optimistic forecasts and accounting propaganda. The country continues with insufficient wages, asphyxiated families and taxes that penalize the effort ", complements.

Francisco Gomes concludes that “Madeira required respect for its rights” and instead receives “empty promises”.

The Autonomous Region of Madeira will receive €308.6 million from transfers from the State Budget, 14.3 million more than this year, according to the proposal, which will have a final overall vote at the end of November.

The document specifies that EUR 228,7 million will be transferred under Article 48 of the Finance Act of the Autonomous Regions (budgetary transfers) and EUR 79,9 million in exceptional terms, corresponding to the Cohesion Fund's contribution to which the autonomous region no longer has access, due to the rise in the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Total transfers to Madeira (EUR 308,6 million) increase by 4.9% compared to this year (294,3 million), plus 14.3 million.

In a reaction to the OE2027 proposal, even before the document was released publicly, the president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, said that he carried out what was established at a meeting he held with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance on 29 September in Lisbon.