The Portuguese government confirmed in Parliament that a regular ferry link between Madeira and mainland Portugal is not provided for in the proposed 2027 State Budget. The answer came during a hearing with the minister of Infrastructure and Housing, after a question from JPP deputy Filipe Sousa.
The secretary of state cited difficulties regarding the viability of the solution under study. Sousa had asked whether the government had given up on the link and, if not, what measures, timetable, funding and public service obligations were planned.
The JPP deputy criticised the PSD deputies elected in Madeira and accused the PSD and CDS of abandoning the promise, arguing the link should also be judged on cohesion and territorial continuity grounds. These accusations come from the JPP and have not been independently verified.