Fourteen lead candidates in Madeira’s most populous municipality, Funchal, participated in a debate aired by RTP/Madeira. Discussions focused on key issues such as housing, safety, and mobility.
Consensus emerged around the recognition of housing as a pressing issue, with candidates articulating their plans. They were also queried on their views regarding the temporary suspension of licenses for local lodging in residential buildings.
Jorge Carvalho, the PSD/CDS-PP coalition candidate, suggested revising the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) to enable families to construct or expand homes in currently restricted zones. As a former regional education secretary, he hasn’t identified the exact number of public homes to build but confirmed locations are pinpointed.
Addressing local lodging, Carvalho agrees with it if it involves property restoration but asserts that changes are necessary for existing residential spaces.
Rui Caetano of the PS supports the suspension of local lodging, deeming it a “propagandistic measure” by Mayor Cristina Pedra’s administration, not a solution to the housing crisis. He highlighted stalled projects for 170 homes, which the PS intends to pursue if it regains leadership, lost in 2021.
Fátima Aveiro from JPP criticized the PSD/CDS-PP for promising 200 homes but delivering 33, advocating adjustments to construction indices. On local lodging, she suggested restricting it only in overstressed areas, emphasizing tourism’s importance.
Chega’s candidate, Luís Filipe Santos, pledged 100 houses for young people under 35 and proposed incentivizing contractors to donate land to the city in exchange for increased construction rights. He suggested extending the suspension and urged immediate regulatory action by the municipality.
Válter Rodrigues of MPT, currently a municipal assembly representative, also favored PDM changes and supported the recent local lodging suspension, while Miguel Pita of ADN said it should include single-family homes.
CDU candidate Ricardo Lume labeled past housing policies by PS and PSD as “a complete fraud,” urging immediate recovery of “abandoned patrimony.”
PAN’s Mónica Freitas stressed the need for local lodgings to enter the rental market, calling for a concrete data-driven municipal housing strategy.
Dina Letra of BE accused the PSD of regressive PDM changes that jeopardize public safety, underlining the necessity for new projects to include 25% affordable housing.
Paulo Azevedo from Nova Direita suggested the municipality should acquire abandoned buildings to prevent private sector local lodging use.
Liana Reis from RIR advocated against further construction, promoting rehabilitation of vacant buildings, social housing upgrades, urgent PDM review, and limiting local lodgings.
Marta Sofia of Livre proposed ensuring 25% of homes in new or unsold developments be for controlled rents and 15% for public housing.
Raquel Coelho of PTP argued candidates are unfairly stigmatizing local lodging and neglecting public housing duties.
Sara Jardim of IL opposed the local lodging suspension, calling it a scapegoat, and also recommended PDM examination.
On security, candidate opinions diverged. Some perceived the city as unsafe, while others emphasized the disparity between perception and data-supported reality.
Candidates discussed solutions for increasing traffic, focusing on enhancing public transport.
Funchal’s current administration consists of six PSD/CDS-PP members and five from the Confiança coalition.
