The leader of JPP’s parliamentary group, the largest opposition party with 11 deputies, criticized the “increased levels of rudeness,” labeling the incidents involving Eduardo Jesus, the Secretary of Tourism, Environment, and Culture, as “regrettable.” These incidents occurred on Tuesday when he used derogatory language towards two PS deputies and one JPP deputy.
Élvio Sousa, the party’s secretary-general, expressed regret over the lack of timely correction and accused the executive’s president, Miguel Albuquerque, of “complicit silence” for several days.
“A government like this is an ill-mannered government,” he asserted, emphasizing that “the people are watching, the people are listening.”
The JPP’s parliamentary leader justified the vote against the Budget, highlighting that none of the 34 proposed amendments by the party were accepted by the PSD/CDS-PP majority, describing this rejection as a “sign of arrogance and pride.”
The Madeira Budget for 2025, totaling 2.533 billion euros, was approved today in the final global vote, with the PSD/CDS-PP majority voting in favor, against the JPP and PS, and with Chega and IL abstaining.
The Government of Madeira’s Investment Plan proposal, amounting to 1.044 billion euros, also received approval, with votes in favor from the PSD/CDS-PP majority, abstentions from the JPP, Chega, and IL, and opposition from the PS.
PS parliamentary leader Paulo Cafôfo also focused on the controversy surrounding the Tourism Secretary, demanding his resignation following the “insults, personal, sexist, and rude offenses directed at two female deputies and one male deputy, all democratically elected.”
During the 2025 Regional Budget specialty debate, Secretary Eduardo Jesus referred to the deputies using derogatory terms, later apologizing to the President of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.
“Those who act, speak, and think in such a manner cannot be part of a government in a region that aspires to be fair, equal, and respectful of everyone’s dignity,” he stated.
Regarding the Budget proposal, he noted that the PSD/CDS-PP majority rejected all 14 amendment proposals by the PS, leaving no alternative for the party but to vote against.
“We will not be complicit in a budget that fails, excludes, repeats past mistakes, and ignores different viewpoints,” he argued.
The sole IL deputy, Gonçalo Maia Camelo, also addressed the situation involving the Tourism Secretary, emphasizing that “respect must always prevail” within institutions.
“I hope that what happened here does not occur again,” he declared.
Regarding the Budget, Gonçalo Maia Camelo considered it largely unchanged from the proposal presented by the executive in December 2024, which was rejected, but argued that the current reality is “substantially different,” as the legitimacy of the PSD/CDS-PP government “has been strengthened.”
The PSD also addressed the issue of derogatory language during the Budget debate, with deputy Brício Araújo arguing that everyone experiences “excesses at various times,” stressing that issues should be given their due importance, “neither more nor less.”
The social-democratic deputy stated, however, that he finds it difficult to understand the “degree of outrage” from some parliamentary groups, particularly the JPP, accusing members of this party of using similar language in other institutions, like the Santa Cruz Municipal Assembly, which they lead.
“I am not excusing anyone. I am, above all, highlighting the posture of the deputies in this house and stating that it is strange that some deputies do not react with the same energy to insults occurring in other arenas,” he explained.
Regarding the Budget, Brício Araújo accused the PS and JPP of delaying its approval by six months by rejecting the proposal presented in December 2024, emphasizing that today the parliament restored political normality in the region.
Meanwhile, Miguel Castro from Chega argued that the Budget does not reflect the real needs of Madeirans, has an assistentialist vision, and perpetuates dependencies, describing it as “more of the same,” but acknowledged that it comes at a “sensitive” time for the autonomous region, which led the party, with three deputies, to abstain.
Sara Madalena, the sole CDS-PP deputy, acknowledged that the Madeira Budget for 2025 is “not perfect,” but is “considered and responsible” and “covers A to Z,” as it addresses all sectors of the region while promoting tax relief.
