AN ONGOING “race” row between Madeira Governor, Alberto João Jardim, and Social Democrats Party (PSD) leader, Marques Mendes, has intensified after the island’s Regional Council said Mendes was no longer welcome on the island.
The disagreement occurred after Jardim, apparently commenting on the origin of some stallholders at the island’s recent Folklore Festival, said he “did not want to see Chinese or Indians on Madeira”. Marques Mendes immediately denounced Jardim, saying the two communities would deem his comments “xenophobic” and “racist”. Reiterating his condemnation, Mendes then said he would not “budge one millimetre from the political principles that I have defined for the party”. As a result, the newly elected PSD leader is now personna non grata in Madeira, the island ruled by the 62-year-old Governor since 1978.
In the motion, the Regional Council accused Mendes of “lack of respect for Jardim”. The statement also praised Jardim for his “defence of the economy, businesses and Madeira workers’ jobs from Chinese and Indian traders in the region”. The motion also censures “successive attitudes” of Mendes and recommends that he does not visit Madeira in the future.
The Madeira Governor also criticised Foreign Affairs Minister, Freitas do Amaral, for apologising to the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal over any offence caused by the incident. Jardim said such behaviour was “unusual” and wondered if it arose at Mendes’ instigation. He also justified his earlier comments: “I only referred to a situation of a commercial nature that is prejudicing employment in Madeira. I always speak up for the interests of Madeira. Perhaps on the Continent they think that our businesses should go bankrupt and be handed over to foreigners.”
Jardim also said he was “ashamed” at seeing Portugal debasing itself by “infringing the human rights of its citizens”.
