While Christmas lights and festivities are muted throughout the country, Madeira Island – dubbed by euro critics as Portugal’s little answer to Greece – will be going all out for a pyrotechnic blast and Christmas illuminations that should set the regional government back by €2.1 million.
Público newspaper reports that Madeira’s sumptuous party plans are not affected by the Programme of Adjustment and Economic Finance, which imposed restrictions and raised taxes due to the region’s “excessive debts”.
Madeira’s debt was not long ago described by the UK’s Daily Telegraph as “as deep as the Atlantic waters around it”. It currently stands at around €6 billion – nearly double the per capita public debt of Portugal – but flamboyant regional boss Alberto João Jardim is not letting any of this dampen plans for Christmas.
His ruling executive has given the green light to spending €944,000 on an eight-minute firework display at New Year and €1.2 million on Christmas lights.
Madeira’s annual festivities create seasonal employment on the island, and bring thousands of tourist flocking – some returning year after year.
In 2006/ 7, the island won a Guinness world record certificate for its pyrotechnics, at the time considered “the largest fireworks show in the world”.
