The draft regional legislative decree, presented to the Madeiran parliament by the Secretary for Inclusion, Labour, and Youth, Paula Margarido, was passed with votes in favour from the PSD/CDS-PP majority, JPP, Chega, and IL, and votes against from the PS.

The official noted that while a national statute already exists, it was necessary for Madeira to exercise its autonomy to tailor measures to the specific circumstances faced by the archipelago's elderly population.

“Population ageing is not a problem, but rather a societal achievement that brings new responsibilities,” she argued, pointing out that the region has a ratio of 186 people aged 65 or older for every 100 young people up to age 14; young people make up 11.7% of the population, while the elderly account for over 20%.

Paula Margarido emphasised that this is “a programmatic piece of legislation” representing “a clear call to adapt public policies,” stressing that “autonomy only makes sense when it allows for a better response to concrete realities.”

“The legislation adds a regional perspective on ageing,” she reinforced, noting, among other aspects, that it affirms “the right of the elderly person to remain in their own environment whenever possible” and highlights the importance of preventing violence, neglect, and abandonment by creating a local support network that involves municipalities and other entities.

The secretary added that the statute also “values ​​home-based care solutions and tele-assistance services” and focuses on creating conditions that allow the elderly to make decisions regarding their own lives and living situations. "Coordinated action among the Regional Government, municipalities, parish councils, the region's health service, the Madeira Social Security Institute, private social solidarity institutions, informal caregivers, and the entire community is essential," he emphasised.

Speaking for the Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) party, Lina Pereira argued that the elderly “should have been involved in drafting” this document, maintaining that the Regional Government must implement the proposed measures, “otherwise the document risks being merely a statement of good intentions.”

Isabel Garcês, of the Socialist Party (PS), considered the proposal to fall “short of expectations” and described it as “a document of limited practical effectiveness,” calling it “shameful” that the elderly and related organisations were not consulted during its drafting process.

“It creates few substantive rights,” the Socialist representative emphasised, insisting that it is “a document of intentions” that “offers little innovation and amounts to nothing,” proving “insufficient to transform the lives of the elderly.”

Meanwhile, Manuela Gonçalves of the Chega party argued that this is “a purely decorative document,” criticising the lack of courage to establish oversight mechanisms for care homes and to “impose administrative fines and penalties on private care homes and non-profit social solidarity institutions (IPSS) that violate the privacy or integrity of the elderly.”

Gonçalo Maia Camelo, the sole deputy for the Liberal Initiative (IL), highlighted that national legislation on this matter already exists and questioned “what changes in the life of an elderly person following the approval of this bill,” noting that “it will not change reality at all.”

A motion of protest “against the delay by the Venezuelan regime in releasing political prisoners,” proposed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), was also discussed in the plenary session.

The motion was presented by Social Democratic deputy Carlos Fernandes, who is of Portuguese descent, highlighting that 300 people remain detained without formal charges in that country.

He noted that this issue had been kept on the regional parliament's agenda and that seven individuals of Portuguese descent had been released this year.

“This mission is not yet over,” emphasised Carlos Fernandes, citing the cases of Colonel Juan Francisco dos Ramos, whose family went days without news of him following the earthquakes, and businessman Fernando Venâncio, who is in a prison facility that “sustained damage, and whose family fears for his future.”