The doctoral thesis of MP Francisco Gomes (Chega), titled 'Autonomy in Madeira (Portugal): Definition, Origins, Evolution and Challenges,' presented in 2019, is facing strong criticism from Portuguese researchers. They cite methodological insufficiencies, a lack of analytical distance, and alleged excessive proximity to the subject of study.
According to Jornal Expresso, the research makes over 300 references to Alberto João Jardim, including 49 citations from the former Regional Government president's memoirs. An investigator from the Spanish National Research Council described the work as "more a propaganda article" and "a piece of bad journalism." Another anonymous researcher questioned the substantiation of several claims and the absence of a clear research question and a structuring theory.
Criticisms also extend to the use of diverse bibliographical references, such as works by Lenin, studies on Mapuche communities, LGBT literature, and serial killer studies, to support arguments about Madeiran autonomy. The thesis also addresses Miguel Albuquerque's rise to PSD-Madeira leadership, attributing it to a confluence of interests, but some of these statements lack specific supporting bibliography.
