Madeira’s only PAN deputy said on Wednesday that the PSD and Madeirans must assess whether Miguel Albuquerque has the legitimacy to lead the regional government, saying her party is ready for any decision by the head of state.
Mónica Freitas spoke to journalists after an audience with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who this Wednesday receives the parties represented in the Parliament of Madeira at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, regarding the political crisis in the archipelago.
Following the regional elections in September 2023, the PAN signed a parliamentary agreement with the Social Democrats, which guaranteed the PSD/CDS-PP regional executive an absolute majority.
When asked whether Social Democrat Miguel Albuquerque, accused in a trial investigating allegations of corruption in the archipelago and currently resigning, could remain chairman of the regional government in a scenario in which there are no early elections, the regional deputy stressed that “Every the party must exercise its own internal management.”
“What we know in the current scenario in Madeira is that there were national legislative elections in which the PSD continued to elect three deputies here to the Assembly of the Republic. She managed to increase the number of votes. There were internal elections in which Activists continued to give this legitimacy to Miguel Albuquerque. It is therefore up to the internal leadership of the PSD, as well as the people of Madeira and Porto Santens, to decide whether it has legitimacy,” he said.
On the other hand, he recalled, PAN has always believed that “an accusation is not evidence of guilt” and that this work will have to be done by the courts.
On Monday, Miguel Albuquerque said there was no reason for the early adoption of the Madeira law and announced that negotiations were in the final stages to assure the President of the Republic that the PSD/SDS-PP majority would remain with the parliamentary support of the MHP.
On the same day, Monica Freitas refused to enter into any formal agreement with the Social Democrats, but admitted that she was ready to make the regional government program and regional budget viable if elections did not take place.
PAN previously said it would only maintain the understanding if Albuquerque stepped down as executive president. The governor resigned after the party deprived the region’s government chairman of political confidence.
If Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decides not to dissolve the regional parliament (as the opposition defends), the representative of the republic in the archipelago, Ireneu Barreto, will appoint “the president and other members of the new regional government,” as announced in February.
Mónica Freitas told the President of the Republic this Wednesday that the party is ready for “any solution” that will overcome the political crisis, while defending the importance of stability.
“PAN, taking a responsible position and always being part of the solution, is ready for any decision of the President of the Republic. We believe that Madeira is in a situation in which it is important to give its citizens a voice, but it is also important to guarantee conditions of governance and stability for the population,” he said.
The MP stressed that the party “contributed to this stability by being able to advance its causes” and lamented the scenario of instability that is observed in the region.
“We live in a scenario of some political instability. We have a budget that has not been approved, so the region is in twelfth place. This is one of the party’s biggest problems,” he emphasized.
In addition to the speech of the nine parties represented in Madeira – PSD, CDS-PP, PS, JPP, Chega, HDZ, IL, PAN and BE – Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will meet this Wednesday with the Council of State and hold a political consultation with the body.
The head of state restored the right to dissolve the archipelago’s parliament this week, six months after regional elections were held in Madeira on September 24, 2023.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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