Controversy Over Presidential Visit to Madeira
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressed willingness to visit Madeira following the August wildfires, but the regional government chief, Miguel Albuquerque, deems the visit unnecessary. He questioned, "What is he coming to do?", emphasizing that there is nothing to see in the region except for burnt vegetation.
During a press conference in Ponta Delgada, Albuquerque stated that the island suffered no damage to homes or infrastructure due to the fires. He mentioned that the President reached out to him for updates on the situation, and he believes the matter is already settled.
Regarding calls for the resignation of regional civil protection officials due to their handling of the fires, Albuquerque firmly rejected any “blackmail” and stressed that he would not be swayed by public opinion or social media reactions. He stated, “If they want a leader who dances to the tune of the internet or public whims, we would lose our direction.”
He also highlighted the importance of demonstrating negligence or incompetence in managing the fires before calling for accountability. Albuquerque pointed out that the fire that started on August 14 in Serra de Água and spread across several municipalities was effectively contained, resulting in no casualties and minimal infrastructure impact.
He emphasized that the people of Madeira desire stability and a consistent direction for their region, stating, “We cannot be jumping around based on momentary feelings, especially those that often do not reflect the majority.”
Albuquerque informed that he has yet to receive a request to attend a parliamentary hearing regarding the fire management and reiterated his commitment to transparency, stating he would analyze the situation before making any decisions. He assured he is not afraid of scrutiny and regularly participates in discussions at the Madeira Assembly.
The Bom Jesus da Ponta Delgada festival, which he attended, is noted as the second most significant festival in the region, following the Monte festival celebrated on August 15.
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