“In any organization that lacks a certain level of control and is oriented towards cohesion, everything external and uncontrolled creates uncertainty within the community,” he stated, warning that “this has led, in most countries, to political polarization, often driven not by reason but by emotion.”
The head of the Madeiran executive (PSD/CDS-PP), speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of an exhibition of miniature cars in Funchal, was reacting to the President of the Republic’s decision to promulgate the Foreigners’ Law.
In a note released today on the presidency’s website, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa considers that the diploma, revised and approved by 70% of the deputies, “minimally addresses the essential doubts of unconstitutionality raised by him and confirmed by the Constitutional Court.”
The diploma from the Assembly of the Republic amends the law from July 4, which approves the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from national territory.
“I have already said, uncontrolled immigration is the worst that can happen to everyone because if there is no control of immigration, we are directly and indirectly paving the way for populism,” argued Miguel Albuquerque, emphasizing that “people, even psychologically, feel insecure.”
Albuquerque stressed that the President of the Republic’s decision is a good measure.
“I have no doubt,” he reiterated.
The social-democratic leader warned, on the other hand, about the increase of 1.5 million immigrants in recent years in the country, considering that “this brings social problems, financial sustainability problems, educational problems, additional burdens for health.”
“It is evident that well-controlled immigration, immigration oriented towards control and integration of families, is welcome,” he noted.
The most recent official data, from 2023, indicate that in that year, 14,000 immigrants from 123 nationalities resided in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with Venezuelan, Brazilian, and British being the most predominant.
“Madeira is cosmopolitan, Madeira is an open land, but even here we must be careful, and we have been careful, in ensuring that the people who come here to work have good living and accommodation conditions, to avoid social and criminal issues,” said Miguel Albuquerque.
