The president of the Government of Madeira, the social democrat Miguel Albuquerque, assured this Monday that the “political negotiations” with the executive of the Republic on the State Budget for 2025 (OE2025) “are on the right track.”
“With the Republic we are finalizing [as negociações sobre o Orçamento de Estado para 2025]. At the moment the negotiations continue, they are going well, they are essentially political negotiations.“, said the head of the Madeiran Executive to journalists on the sidelines of the presentation of the project for a motorcycle track in the parish of Campanário, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, in the west of the island.
Miguel Albuquerque said that he spoke about the matter with the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegroand with the leader of the social democratic bench in the Assembly of the Republic, Hugo Soares, over the weekend, during the national congress of the PSD, which took place in Braga.
“Therefore, everything is underway and, at this moment, we find ourselves in a situation where we must keep the conversation,” he reinforced, noting that he will have the opportunity to “continue the conversation” on Sunday, in the Azores. where he will travel to participate in the PSD/Azores Congress.
Still according to Miguel Albuquerque, There are three essential points in the negotiationthat is, the “assumption of costs or at least willingness to begin amortizing the costs of health subsystems“.
“The issue of VAT (Value Added Tax) capitation and approval of business registration at the Madeira International Business Center (CINM)”, were other issues highlighted by the President of the Government of Madeira.
Recalling that the CINM represented “160 million euros of income for the region” last year, Miguel Albuquerque insisted on the need to “keep this center active and with positive expectations.”
On Saturday, at the PSD congress, Miguel Albuquerque insisted on demanding a “clear commitment” from the President of the Government in the State Budget on the rights of the autonomous communities, warning that, otherwise, the islands’ deputies will vote against that document.
“It is not a threat, it is a circumstance that arises from the need for the State to assume commitments with the autonomous regions,” said Miguel Albuquerque, at the entrance to the 42nd National Congress of the PSD.
Regarding the statements of the president of the CDS-PP/Madeira, José Manuel Rodrigues, who stated on Sunday that the party has already presented its Regional Budget proposals for 2025 to the regional Government, highlighting that if there is no negotiation, each person will follow their own path , Miguel Albuquerque considered that “there will not be any problem.”
According to the leader of the Madeiran executive, the parties are already being listened to and there will be “all possible conversations.”
In addition, he recalled, there is already “an approved program” that has contributions from other party forces.
“These commitments are measured and will be scheduled based on government availability. In fact, the parties know it and it will continue like this without problems,” he highlighted.
Regarding the commission of inquiry in the Madeira parliament requested by the PS to “establish political responsibilities in the fight against the fires that occurred between August 14 and 26” which approved its hearing on October 31 this Monday, Miguel Albuquerque He reaffirmed that he will respond to questions in writing.
The first person to appear will be the regional secretary of Civil Protection and Health, Pedro Ramos, on October 29.
This is the rural fire that occurred on the island of Madeira on August 14, in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, progressively spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana. On the 26th, after 13 days, regional Civil Protection indicated that the fire was “completely extinguished.”
Source: Observadora
