benefits and privileges for Madeira, helping the region to improve in several fields throughout the years it has been under his leadership. However, the European Union assistance to its ultra-peripheral regions, which includes the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, has played a major role in the region's development; Madeira's development has been massively aided by structural and cohesion funds allocated by the European Union to the regional government. In addition, Jardim's government of the autonomous region was financially supported, decade across decade, by massive public debt creation and wild over-expenditure. An even more surprising scandal was reported on 16 September 2011, when Portugal's central bank said Madeira island had under-reported its debt since 2004, putting further pressure on the country to meet deficit targets under an international bailout. An evaluation conducted by the Bank of Portugal of Madeira's accounts showed it failed to report EUR1.1 billion ($1.53 billion) in debt from 2008 to 2010 alone. The Bank of Portugal called the omission "grave," adding it doesn't know of any similar cases in the rest of the country. The debt was finally totaled at €6 billion, €3 billion less than the total that Alberto said mainland Portugal owed Madeira. His name has been often associated with FLAMA, the archipelago's defunct far-right separatist terrorist organization that undertook 70 bombings in Madeira between 1975 and 1978. Although no FLAMA activists were ever brought to justice, Alberto João Jardim has often supported their cause, stating that "they should receive a reward not a punishment, since they're defenders of democracy and of the homeland". Other affiliations He was a fan of C.S. Marítimo, a sports club from Funchal. In 1997 he tried to join together the three biggest teams from Funchal in one unified and governmental team. Then the popular Marítimo's supporters denied that intention in a big demonstration. After that he has been seen on the C. D. Nacional side. He will be the president of the commemorations of the 100 years of Nacional. Invited Professor of the Universidade Independente, a Private University in Lisbon. Honours and Distinctions National Honours and Distinctions Portuguese Ancient Military Orders Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (21 December 2015) Portuguese National Orders Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (12 December 1984) Municipal Honours Funchal Medal of Honour Santa Cruz Medal of Honour São Vicente Collar of Honour Other Portuguese Distinctions Commander of Benefaction of the Portuguese