The project presented by the government of António Costa is “counterproductive”, makes Alojamento Local (AL) a “pointless scapegoat” for housing problems and “damages investor confidence”. And harassing investors is “a crazy idea”, summarizes Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of Madeira, who refuses to apply the measures designed by the Government of the Republic and demands a “specific solution, dimensioned and adapted to regional realities”.
In an interview with DN, Albuquerque destroys a package he considers a “statist” that “you could even say looks Venezuelan.” And the consequences for an economy like that of Madeira, whose main sources are tourism and foreign investment, would be devastating. “It’s a crazy idea.”
It concerns the forced rental of vacant homes, which, according to the regional government official, imposes “a disproportionate restriction of rights, freedoms and guarantees, namely the right to property”, but above all the measures that affect the AL and the money that ends up in the islands by the hand of the many foreigners who invest there. “The regional government refuses to apply these measures of the Meer Wonen program”says Miguel Albuquerque, emphasizing that “the region has the capacity and authority to legislate on this issue.”
Madeira’s position has already resulted in three resolutions, adopted that weekend and sent by letter to António Costa, with the knowledge of the President of the Republic, who has been in Madeira since yesterday evening. Faced with the displeasure of the Madeirans, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa issued a call for calm and negotiation yesterday. “Let’s wait and see what the overall picture is [do Mais Habitação]also because there are alternative proposals and the diplomas are being considered”, enabling several PSD initiatives, which went to the committee to negotiate with the government and the PS.
However, if things go wrong, the regional president may even form a joint resistance front of the autonomous regions with the government of Bolieiro: “The Azores are in the same situation, they do not want these measures either. We were not consulted and that is a pity. This is all decided centrally and without knowledge of the regional reality.”
“We are not going to renounce political autonomy within the framework of legality and constitutionality,” the president of the regional government of the Azores had already stressed, commenting on the measures taken by the government of the Republic without even going to the autonomous listening regions. Which Albuquerque also considers “hijacking and disrespect.”
AL brought “diversification and household income”
Restrictions on local lodging are one of the issues most opposed, even excluding fee-paying autonomous regions — an idea that Miguel Albuquerque flatly rejects. “It’s disproportionate, it makes no sense. It is an attack on a regime that has not only brought huge benefits to tourism and property rehabilitation in the region, but also provides an important source of income for many families. – in some cases unique, in others complementary – that should not be missing.”
To justify the argument, the President of the Regional Government of Madeira draws numbers and facts. “The AL corresponds to only 20% of overnight stays in Madeira and Porto Santo and has been fundamental to the diversification and decentralization of the tourist offer, boosting the economy of local communities that until now have had little expression in this level.” He also recalls the AL’s fundamental role in “restoring, rehabilitating and energizing the historic center of towns and villages”, stating that the solutions that change this regime should always involve the affected municipalities.
Do not lose advantages that attract foreigners
If you reject forced leasing and do not accept that the AL is erased through general restrictions to solve very local problems, especially in certain areas of Lisbon and Porto, the aim is to end residence permits for investment activity that really puts Miguel Albuquerque off his mind.
“The end of the golden visa program just wants to end real estate speculation in Porto and Lisbon,” says the Madeiran leader, stating that not only does it make no sense to extend it to Madeira, but if it does it case, it has the potential to wreak havoc on local finances. “The program has brought many high-income foreign residents to Madeira, with clear benefits to the local economy and very significant direct positive effects in sectors such as real estate and construction. In 2022 alone, more than 600 million euros were raised in this way. You can’t joke about something so serious,” he emphasized to DN.
And goes on, “It is counterproductive to attack foreign investment which is aimed at urban rehabilitation, especially when there is unlikely to be a movement to replace it, bringing more housing onto the market”.
Despite rejecting these axes from the More Housing package, Albuquerque recognizes that there is a housing crisis, especially with regard to youth, who “should be supported by the state.” If? “Building or providing public property in pleasant places, not ghettos, so they can have a less complicated start in life.” “Corporate housing” solutions and targeted support are another part of Miguel Albuquerque’s recipe. “That is what we have done successfully in Madeira. We have 128 million euros from the PRR on the field for that.”
Source: DN
