The Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of Madeira signed Regional Regulatory Decree No. 16/2026/M, of 28 August, concerning the case of Amparo. The article raises questions about the coordination between the regional housing policy and the competencies of municipalities regarding urban planning and land management. The decree determines that certain acts are subject to prior authorization from the Regional Secretary for Equipment and Infrastructures, with the Municipal Chamber of Funchal only being heard, which means it does not have effective decision-making capacity.
The article poses the question of what the position of the Association of Municipalities is regarding the regime applied to Amparo, highlighting that this question is not partisan but rather institutional and deserves a public response. Citizens want to know whether the Association of Municipalities was consulted and whether it considers that municipal autonomy and the competencies of the chambers are properly safeguarded with this model.
The text also raises the possibility that this model may represent only an exceptional solution for a specific area or constitute a precedent for future regional interventions on municipal territories. The central question is whether the progressive concentration of decisions at the regional level can reduce the effective decision-making capacity of local government, not only in Funchal but potentially in other municipalities of the Region.
The article calls for responses and clarification from the Association of Municipalities and the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, arguing that true regional autonomy must be based on a balanced relationship between the Regional Government and local government. The question of Amparo is presented not merely as a problem of Funchal, but as a matter of principle for all municipalities in the region.
