In statements made in Funchal, the PCP-backed candidate highlighted his involvement as a communist deputy during the 2004 constitutional revision, noting that “certain aspects of regional autonomy, particularly in Madeira, have not been utilized.”
“I do not advocate for a constitutional revision on this matter because the 2004 solutions currently in place are appropriate,” he stated, speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the Funchal Solid Waste Transfer and Sorting Station.
António Filipe believes that a topic warranting reflection is the Regional Finance Law concerning stability.
“I think there should be stability in the legal framework governing financial relations between the State and the autonomous regions to ensure they are not subject to temporary, annual discussions based on who is the Government of the Republic or the regional government,” he remarked.
“I believe the stability of financial choices should be safeguarded, and I am not opposed to the regional finance law possibly being granted increased significance,” he reinforced, adding that he would not propose a constitutional revision solely to address this issue.
The presidential candidate for the January 18 elections also emphasized that regional autonomy “was a significant achievement for the country and the regions” and that both Madeira and the Azores “benefited greatly from political and administrative autonomy, regardless of the governments and majorities in the regional parliaments.”
He pointed out that any changes to Madeira’s Political Administrative Statute are an initiative of the Regional Legislative Assembly and cannot be initiated by either the President of the Republic or the national parliament.
António Filipe concluded a two-day visit to the autonomous region today, during which he interacted with the public, unions, and workers. On Monday, he also paid respects to the president of the island’s parliament, Rubina Leal, and the representative of the Republic for Madeira, Ireneu Barreto.
The candidate noted that workers in Madeira face the same issues as those in the mainland, namely low wages and job insecurity. However, they encounter an additional challenge concerning the cost of living due to insularity.
“For instance, it’s more challenging to find a place to rent or have the financial means to purchase a house in the autonomous region of Madeira, given the region’s characteristics, tourism impact, and geography, which pose specific difficulties,” he emphasized.
António Filipe also mentioned that the labor legislation amendment proposed by the Government of the Republic is “unfavorable to workers” because it liberalizes dismissals and complicates the right to strike, asserting his position as “the candidate of the workers.”
