Summary:
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa meets with Madeiran political parties to address a political crisis.
Early elections are anticipated, likely on March 9.
The current government, led by Miguel Albuquerque, will remain until the new executive takes office.
The motion of censure against Albuquerque was unprecedented in Madeira's history.
Judicial investigations involving Albuquerque have contributed to the political instability.
President Addresses Political Crisis in Madeira
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is once again confronted with the political crisis in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. This Tuesday, he is set to meet with political parties represented in the regional parliament.
The first party expected at the Palácio de Belém is the PSD-Madeira, followed by PS, JPP, Chega, CDS-PP, IL, and PAN. Early indications suggest that the archipelago will face early elections once again, with March 9 emerging as the most likely date. This will mark the second time in less than a year that the Autonomous Region of Madeira goes to the polls.
The regional government led by Miguel Albuquerque will remain in office until the new Madeiran executive is sworn in.
How Madeira Reached This Point
The Madeiran Regional Government, under Miguel Albuquerque, lasted just six months from its formation on June 6, 2024, until the approval of a motion of censure on December 17. The government was established following early elections on May 26, 2024, triggered by the resignation of Albuquerque amidst a corruption investigation.
Due to the elections held on May 26, the Regional Legislative Assembly of Madeira, consisting of 47 deputies, failed to secure an absolute majority for the PSD, which formed an agreement with the CDS to maintain governance.
However, the rejection of the Madeira Budget paved the way for another political crisis. A week later, the motion of censure put forth by Chega was approved in early November. On December 9, the opposition parties, including PS, Chega, JPP, IL, and PAN, voted against the proposed budget in the Regional Assembly.
Chega justified the motion citing judicial investigations involving Miguel Albuquerque and four regional secretaries, all of whom are also implicated. The approval of this motion was unprecedented in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
On December 19, the Representative of the Republic, Irineu Barreto, consulted the parties in the regional parliament and reported that all favored elections
Comments
Join Our Community
Create an account to share your thoughts, engage with others, and be part of our growing community.