A twenty-year-old management student makes an appearance at the local administration of Porto Moniz, Madeira island.
In the picturesque municipality of Porto Moniz, a new voice is rising, promising to break the stagnation and restore hope to its citizens. Miguel Pereira, a 22-year-old Management student at the University of Madeira, is the top candidate for the Chega party in the municipality.
Born on March 18, 2005, Miguel Pereira has a special connection to Porto Moniz, where he studied and played futsal. He believes that the municipality, governed by the Socialist Party (PS) since 2013 with an absolute majority, needs "new, determined, and transparent leadership."
The predominant activities in Porto Moniz are agriculture and tourism. To revitalise these sectors, Pereira proposes a program of rehabilitation of vacant houses and incentives for young rentals to halt population loss. He also aims to reduce bureaucracy, encourage small farmers, and value local meat and products in the fight to revitalise the primary sector.
Pereira's tourism strategies aim to retain young people and generate stable income. He defends diversifying the tourist offer, including nature, cultural, gastronomic, and wellness tourism. His plans for the primary sector are intertwined with his vision for tourism, as he hopes they will create a sustainable and resilient economy for Porto Moniz.
The fight against the isolation of high areas is a priority for Pereira. He plans to implement a rigorous plan for the recovery of roads and agricultural paths to ensure better accessibility for the community. Partnerships are a priority for him to ensure regular consultations without the need to travel to Funchal.
Pereira's candidacy also prioritises the strengthening of local health services and home support. He is an assistant football coach in the youth teams and a volunteer at the Homeless Support Center, demonstrating his commitment to community welfare.
As for the Madeira regional elections of 2025, there is no available information about the political party that Pereira will support. However, his focus on grassroots issues and community development has resonated with many in Porto Moniz, where the PS maintains its majority despite the recent victories of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition in three other municipalities.
Porto Moniz, with its four parishes - Porto Moniz, Seixal, Ribeira da Janela, and Achadas da Cruz - is the least populous of the 11 municipalities in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with 2,598 inhabitants (data from the National Institute of Statistics for 2024). The municipality's unique charm and natural beauty have made it a popular tourist destination, but Pereira hopes to ensure that its residents also benefit from its prosperity.
In a recent election, the Ribeira Brava Primeiro movement won in Ribeira Brava, with a list that received the support of social democrats and centrists. As the campaign season heats up in Porto Moniz, it remains to be seen whether Pereira and Chega can make a similar impact.
In the meantime, Pereira continues to advocate for his vision of a Porto Moniz that is vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive, where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.
