José Manuel Rodrigues argued that the 50th anniversary of Madeira's Autonomy should be an opportunity to reaffirm the political and institutional value of the autonomous model across Portugal and to explain the rationale behind the Autonomous Regions to new generations.
These ideas were presented during the launch of the book '50 Years of the Parliament of Madeira – 1976/2026', by João Lemos Baptista, at the Legislative Assembly of Madeira. The official linked the celebration of half a century of Autonomy to the need to preserve institutional memory and enhance understanding of their role in democracy.
Rodrigues emphasized Parliament as central to political Autonomy, recalling that many significant transformations for the population originated from legislative activity. He asserted that a regional parliament with legislative powers is an essential expression of political autonomy enshrined in the 1976 Constitution, particularly during a time of "institutional crisis."
