PS/Madeira reiterates that it will not accept a new regional government until early elections

The PS/Madeira party confirmed this Wednesday that it does not agree with the formation of a new regional government until early elections are held, and said that until then the current chief executive of the PSD/CDU-PP coalition must remain in power.

“Why is the PDP-SDP afraid of elections? Is she afraid of the people of Madeira? Is she afraid of losing power, and thus new facts and new corruptions might be discovered in her management at the head of our region,” asked PS/Madeira MP Leader Paulo Cafofo at the end of the meeting of the political commission, which took place at the party headquarters in Funchal .

The Socialists analyzed the political crisis that has engulfed the autonomous region following corruption investigations into the Social Democratic presidents of the regional government, Miguel Albuquerque, and the Funchal chamber, Pedro Calado, both of whom have already resigned from their posts.

Miguel Albuquerque was declared a defendant, and Pedro Calado was arrested along with the leader of the AFA construction group, Avelino Fariña, and the main shareholder of the civil engineering group Socicorreia, Custodio Correia.

“PS/Madeira does not accept the new government formation. [Regional] with this parliamentary structure,” said Paulo Cafofo, referring to the possibility of the parties supporting the executive (PSD and SDS-PP in coalition, with parliamentary support from the MHP) to move forward in this direction.

The Socialist leader considered that this was not a political way out of the “alley in which the PDP-PSD/Madeira found itself.”

“The next regional government cannot be chosen by PDP-SDP activists because it is solely and exclusively the choice of the people,” he said, emphasizing that “the next regional government must be chosen by the people.”

Paulo Cafofo defended the calling of early elections “within the constitutional framework and within the established time frame” and recalled that the IPS/Madeira appealed to the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the representative of the Republic in the region, Ireneu Barreto, in order to avoid “a situation of chronic instability and constant mistrust” on the archipelago.

“Is there a discussion of the regional budget or not? [cuja discussão deverá acontecer entre 6 e 9 de fevereiro]The current government must remain in power until early elections are held,” he said.

At least until March 24, the President of the Republic cannot officially issue a decree dissolving the Legislative Assembly of the region.

Article 172 of the Constitution specifies that no Assembly may be dissolved “within six months after its election”, which happened in Madeira during the legislative elections of 24 September 2023.

Paulo Cafofo stressed that these are “signs of a pact of corruption and favoritism that controls the destinies of the region and the taxpayers’ money,” and warned that it is not yet known whether Miguel Albuquerque has asked for his immunity to be revoked, which he is pushing through the Council of State and the regional parliament.

“The PSD is clinging to power in order to perpetuate the regime and the looseness that exists between the government, the party and private interests,” he accused, adding that “PS/Madeira in this context is the only party capable of restoring trust and stability, and that what Madeira needs to move forward.”

On January 24, the Judicial Police (SP) carried out some 130 searches in and outside homes in Madeira, the Azores and various areas of the continent, during which Miguel Albuquerque was charged and Pedro Calado, Avelino Fariña and Custodio were arrested. .

According to the joint venture, we are talking about suspicions of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantages, abuse of power and influence trading.

Among the contracts subject to criminal investigation, according to court documents, are the concession for public road passenger transport services on the island of Madeira, the concession for the Curral das Freiras cable car, the Praia Formosa project and Funchal Jazz 2022-2023.