“It is good to demystify this idea that GDP growth in Madeira (...) has no impact on people's lives”, he said.

Miguel Albuquerque, who was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to a company in Funchal, said that the statistical data contradicts the “recurrent opposition discourse”, which insists on stating that the increase in the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) does not translate into gains for families, despite having reached the record value of 7.122 billion euros in 2024.

“What is important is that we look at the statistical data,” he said, before reinforcing: “The data points to this evidence, this is evidence that is undeniable. The gross monthly remuneration of workers, on average, in Madeira, increased by 29% between 2015 and 2024”.

The head of the Social Democratic executive explained that deducting inflation during this period, the gain in terms of average gross salary is between 19.5% and 20%, having gone from 1,143 euros to 1,475 euros.

“All of this has to do with the intervention that the Government also had in the negotiation of collective contracts”, he said, clarifying that in 2023 alone, 59 collective work contracts were negotiated.

Miguel Albuquerque has led the Madeiran executive since 2015 and is once again the PSD's top candidate in the early legislative elections on 23 March.