madeira4u - Resources & Information - Local Government & Politics For Madeira & Its Regions
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madeira4u Resources & Information home page
Animal welfare on Madeira - Aniaml Help Charities & Organisations - SPAD & NAFS
Banking & Finance information for residents & visitors to Madeira
Essential information about driving on Madeira, etiquette, road safety etc.
A Guide to the schools and education system on Madeira
How to manage & who to contact in the event of a medical or other emergency
Madeira event calendar for festivals, celebrations, holidays, and religious events
A guide to eating and drinking on Madeira, including some specialities
Madeira overview - location, geography, culture, economy etc.
Healthcare on Madeira - A guide to how the sytem works, and how to make it work for you
A guide to the political structure of Madeira, at national, regional, and local levels
Miscellaneous informations useful for living on or visiting Madeira
Newspapers and other resources for information for residents and visitors to Madeira
A selection of scenic and other photographs of Madeira
The Portuguese language is spoken on Madeira - some hints and resources to get you started
Trade Directors & Classified Advertisers on Madeira
A guide to buying, selling, and renting property on Madeira, with costing information
Madeira & Portuguese Public Holidays
Residency status abd applying for a residents permit to live on Madeira
Shops & Shopping - a quick guide to shopping on Madeira
Don't ask, just look - some amusing distractions to give you a break
A guide to taxation and tax liability for residents and visitors to Madeira
Information and resources for tourists on Madeira
Travel Guide - Flights, Ferry, Buses, Taxis, & Car Hire / Rental
A guide to english language television and radio on Madeira
A guide to the utilities on Madeira - Electricity, Water, Gas, Internet, and fixed and mobile telephones
Working on Madeira, and setting up your own business or company
Resources & Information - Local Government on Madeira
Calheta (district) Council - Câmara Município da Calheta
Porto Moniz (district) Council - Câmara Município do Porto Moniz
Câmara de Lobos (district) Council - Câmara Município de Câmara de Lobos
Funchal (district) Council - Câmara Município do Funchal
Machico (district) Council - Câmara Município do Machico
Ponta do Sol (district) Council - Câmara Município da Ponta do Sol
São Vicente (district) Council - Câmara Município do São Vicente
Porto Santo (district) Council - Câmara Município do Porto Santo
Ribeira Brava (district) Council - Câmara Município Ribeira Brava
Santa Cruz (district) Council - Câmara Município da Santa Cruz
Santana (district) Council - Câmara Município da Santana
Beneath each (district) Câmara, each town or area within the district is represented by a
Junta de Freguesia, in many ways the status equivalent of the system of parish and town
councils in the UK. Here you would register to vote, get your dog licence, and deal with the
simple tasks within the community. Funchal has the largest number with 10, whilst Porto
Santo is one on its own. Many of the Juntas de Freguesia do have their own websites, and
a google search including the town name might well bring up one you are looking for.
The Autonomous Government Of Madeira - Governo Regional da Madeira
Madeira Politics
The current government PSD (Social Democratic Party) has been in total control of the island for over 30 years, at all levels
of government. Opposition parties are unable to gain a foothold in power, partly because the huge resources and publicity
that the PSD can afford each time an election comes along, aided by a chorus  of  'B' list celebrities.

The government has made immense progress in changing Madeira 'the island' for the better, and has attracted huge
investments, but focused the bulk of its priority expenditure on the infrastructure. However, rumours of financial
mismanagement, poor monetary control, cash payments for favours, as well as threats to the weakest groups in society at
election times, are constantly in circulation. But the antiquated and long outdated Madeiran style of governmental
democracy continues to thrive, where real democracy on Madeira starts and finishes on election day.

Unfortunately, as a result of the government's quest for 'political monuments' and publicity, this is still an island of
incredible wealth imbalance and the rich get richer, whilst the poor remain in poverty and really cannot get any poorer. In
2007 it was reported that 20% of the population live in poverty. This is a geographic phenomenon as  well as a class issue,
with Funchal in a different world to other parts of the island. The much needed social, educational and poverty agendas
appear to take a back seat behind building new structures and other headline grabbing political initiatives, and that itself is
generating new social problems that the current systems cannot recognise, let alone deal with.

Whilst it is impossible to say whether a change in power would do Madeira island any good, certainly an opposition of any
strength would force the current regime to refocus its policies, whereas at the moment it sets its own agenda year after
year, without having to gain any backing for its political mandates.

Foreigners living on Madeira don't get any say or recognition within the current political regime, and are largely ignored as a
composite ethnic minority group, and if this government doesn´t agree with the views expressed here then it only has itself
to blame for living in either ignorance or indifference.

The views expressed here are those of a private individual who is not connected to any political party on Madeira, made through the forum of
madeira4u as a matter of provision of information on Madeira's political systems, and are not necessarily the views of madeira4u the business entity.
Opposing views, with
the left block below,
against the PSD 'Festa'
(festival) politics
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