CHEGA MP Francisco Gomes has called for Regional Secretary Eduardo Jesus to resign, accusing him of defending airline interests rather than those of Madeira’s residents.
In a statement issued on the 4th of October, following a visit to Santo da Serra Market, Gomes criticised delays in fully implementing the new Territorial Continuity Mechanism (MCT).
The revised scheme is intended to allow eligible residents to pay only their fixed share of an airfare. Beforehand, residents had to pay the full travel price and then claim their entitled reimbursement.
According to the statement, Law No. 23/2026 was approved by Parliament on the 10th of April, promulgated on the 26th of May, and published on the 1st of June, entering into force on the 6th of June.
Gomes said there was no justification for residents still being required to advance substantial sums several months later. He described the situation as “a disgrace” and “daylight robbery.”
The MP accused the national government of “incompetence and bad faith,” arguing that it had had sufficient time to adapt the systems needed to put the changes into practice.
“Each day of delay means one more Madeiran forced to finance an air ticket in advance with money that many families do not have available,” he said.
His strongest criticism was directed at Eduardo Jesus, whom he accused of seeking to discredit the revised scheme and placing airline interests above those of residents.
Gomes described the regional secretary as behaving “more like an easyJet commercial director” than a representative of Madeirans, and demanded his resignation. He further alleged that the Regional Government’s position favoured retaining a system under which residents must pay the full fare upfront.
Claiming the legislative changes as an achievement of CHEGA’s parliamentary work, Gomes urged the national government to complete the technical implementation immediately and called on the Regional Government to demand that the legislation be fully applied.
“Madeirans do not have to finance airlines with their families’ money. They only should have to pay the already agreed amount,” he said.
Gomes was accompanied at the market by members of CHEGA’s regional organisation, its youth wing and party representatives from Machico and Santa Cruz.
The statement did not include a response from Eduardo Jesus or the Regional Government regarding the accusations.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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