Gonçalo Leite Velho opened today’s plenary session by accusing the Regional Government of being “addicted to taxes.” He said Madeira has recorded the “highest inflation rate in the country” for 31 consecutive months, alongside the most expensive fuels and steadily increasing food prices. According to the PS deputy, this combination has placed heavy pressure on families across the region. He argued that the situation has also driven tax receipts to record levels. In VAT alone, he said collection was 313 million euros higher over the same 30-month period than in the previous year. Leite Velho described VAT as a highly profitable source of revenue for the Regional Government while Madeira remains in the PAEF (Economic and Financial Adjustment Programme. He added that between 2012 and 2024, regional GDP rose by 46%, but VAT revenue increased by 144%, concluding that when Madeirans buy something, “Madeirans pay the seller and the Regional Government.”
