“You are exaggerating. Everything is already clarified, he [the regional secretary] has already apologized. Don’t start acting as moralists now, as if no one has ever made a comment,” stated Miguel Albuquerque.
The social democrat, leading the regional coalition government of PSD/CDS-PP, spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the solemn session of Calheta’s Council Day, in the western part of Madeira island.
“He apologized and it’s resolved. You shouldn’t go on with that conversation,” he added.
The official was referring to language considered inappropriate used by the regional secretary for Tourism, Environment, and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, on Tuesday, at the Madeira Legislative Assembly, during the detailed debate of the Madeiran government’s Budget and Investment Plan for 2025.
Among other phrases seen as improper for a parliamentary debate, Eduardo Jesus criticized questions made by PS deputy Sílvia Silva, referring to her with the word “gaja”.
Besides that, which was the least severe, the regional secretary called female deputies “stupid” and used other expressions less appropriate for parliamentary debate.
On Thursday, Eduardo Jesus extended an apology to the president of the region’s Legislative Assembly for the language expressions he used during the detailed debate of the insular Budget.
“I hereby communicate, as the president of the Madeira Legislative Assembly, to the dignified representative of all deputies elected in this region, my regret and apologies, through Your Excellency, for what happened during the discussion of the Regional Budget/2025, last Tuesday,” the official wrote in the letter sent to the head of the island’s parliament, Rubina Leal.
Eduardo Jesus also mentioned that “under no circumstances” did he intend to offend the deputies or the institution, emphasizing that his “remarks” resulted from the “tension of the enthusiastic discussion that typically takes place in the parliamentary environment.”
The situation was criticized by all opposition parties, which considered the expressions used as an “insult,” “unqualifiable,” and “regrettable,” arguing that he should also apologize to the targeted deputies.
