The DNA – Madeira party has expressed strong regret over a comment by the president of the Regional Government of Madeira, who said, “A tenant who doesn’t pay rent goes straight to the street.” Speaking to reporters, ADN-Madeira argued that the Regional Government is largely responsible for the rise in rent defaults across the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The party said job insecurity is already a serious problem and warned that it could worsen after the approval of the Labour Package. It also blamed steep and unsustainable rent increases for making housing even harder to afford. ADN-Madeira said the island is no longer the “Pearl of the Atlantic” for Madeirans and Porto Santo residents, because many young people are leaving in search of better jobs, housing, and financial stability. The party added that the President of the Regional Government should be more measured in his personal opinions about the lives of each Madeiran and Porto Santonse citizen. It also called for greater respect toward people who are struggling to find affordable housing.
