Madeira returns to the polls this Sunday to elect a new regional parliament in snap elections that come just eight months after the legislative vote that gave Miguel Albuquerque the job of government leader.
The elections were called by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who dissolved the Madeira parliament after the political crisis provoked in January when the leader of the Regional Government (PSD/CDU-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, was appointed as a deputy. defendant in an investigation into alleged corruption.
The SDP was always in the lead in the archipelago, winning 11 times with an absolute majority of the votes. In 2019, the Social Democrats concluded a post-election agreement with the CDS-PP, and in 2023, when they were already competing in coalitions but did not achieve an absolute majority, the SDP signed a parliamentary influence agreement with the PAN to achieve an absolute majority.
This Sunday, 47 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly will be decided and, according to the Ministry of Interior, 254,522 voters are registered to vote, with 249,075 on the island of Madeira and 5,447 on the island of Porto Santo.
The 292 polling stations, distributed across 54 parishes in 11 municipalities of the archipelago, will be open from 8:00 to 19:00.
by minute
Updated May 26, 2024 | 17:10
The voter turnout till 16:00 was 40.52%.
The voter turnout till 4 pm was 40.52%, which is in line with the 40.79 recorded in 2023.
Albuquerque will name its “favorite partner” today if it doesn’t have an absolute majority
The head of the PSD list in the legislative elections, Miguel Albuquerque, reiterated his fears about ungovernability in the region and promised to indicate a “favorite partner” for agreements if he wins without an absolute majority after the results are announced.
“Your favorite partner will tell you more soon after reading the results,” he told reporters, explaining that the “controllability problem” arises from “reading the will of the people.”
Miguel Albuquerque spoke to the media after voting at a polling station located in Escola Básica da Ajuda, in the parish of São Martinho, municipality of Funchal, and admitted that the population is already tired of successive electoral events, namely regional ones. in September 2023, nationals in March, and now the upcoming regionals.
“Of course there is wear and tear,” he said, before adding: “We’ve had three elections in a row and that’s wearing on institutions, people are tired, but I think at the moment it’s positive that we have more or less the level participation is similar to the previous one [regionais]”
CNE says elections are going well
The National Electoral Commission said Madeira’s regional elections were proceeding “normally” and that it had received only “a few requests for clarification” about propaganda outside polling stations.
Around 12:30 p.m., the National Electoral Commission (CNE) spokesman Fernando Anastasio told Lusa that the elections were “proceeding normally and no incidents have been reported.”
“There is nothing significant. The action is going well. There were requests for clarification, but there are few of them, and they relate to some kind of propaganda close to the voting tables,” he said.
According to the person in charge, CNE is still receiving questions regarding the European elections on June 9, and these questions are unclear.
CDS-PP leader calls for responsible voting to resolve crisis
The leader of the CDS-PP list for the early elections taking place today in Madeira, José Manuel Rodrigues, considered this vote “the most important” for Madeirans, calling on them to vote responsibly to resolve the political crisis in the region.
“This is the most important election for the people of Madeira and Porto Santos,” the leader of the CDS-PP/Madeira told Lusa after voting at the Funchal City Council table.
Stressing that voting “besides a right, it is also a responsibility,” José Manuel Rodriguez, president of the Madeira Legislative Assembly since 2019, said Madeirans should vote “with a sense of responsibility.”
Kafofo (PS) hopes the number of abstentions will decrease and it will be a “great day for the region”
The head of the PS list for the legislative elections taking place today in Madeira, Paulo Cafofo, is confident that this will be a “great day for the region and the autonomy” and expressed hope that the number of abstentions will decrease.
“These are the most important elections in the history of the autonomy, more important because of the context in which they take place, more important because of the challenges ahead,” he said, emphasizing that the electoral act will already take place.” within normal limits.”
The candidate, who is also the leader of PS/Madeira, the largest opposition party in Madeira, currently with 11 deputies out of the 47 that make up parliament, spoke to reporters after voting in a section set up in the Escola Básica da Ajuda. , in the parish of São Martinho, municipality of Funchal.
“Until today, the PS has never effectively governed this region, decisions always deserve respect, what the people want must always be respected,” he said, and then confirmed: “I am very confident that today will be a great day for our region and for autonomy.”
Elvio Souza (JPP) argues that each person’s responsibility should not be delegated
The head of the JPP list for the regional elections in Madeira, Elvio Sousa, recalled today that achieving the right to vote “took a lot of effort”, saying that the responsibility and conscience of each person should not be delegated to others.
“Usually this little rain brings joy and some freshness,” Elvio Souza told reporters at the Gaula parish center after casting his vote.
Secretary General Juntos Pelo Povo and parliamentary leader of the Legislative Assembly of the region stressed that at a time when the 50th anniversary of April 25, 1974 is celebrated, it is important to remember “that it took a lot to win the vote, especially to vote with conscience, in peace.” .
“The Constitution is very clear and today is the day to remember that. Political power belongs to the people and we should never delegate our responsibility and conscience to others. , but I think it will definitely open in the afternoon,” said Elvio Souza.
Chega emphasizes that it is through voting that the political future of the region will be decided
The leader of the Chegi list in the regional elections of Madeira today called for the participation of Madeirans in this electoral act rather than abstention, stressing that it is through voting that the political future of the region will be decided.
“I think it is very important to come and vote, it is very important to come and choose what you want for your future, because it is through voting that people will really choose the political future of Madeira. And let’s hope that this time the equation works out to truly ensure a stable government in Madeira,” said the head of the Chegi list and regional leader Miguel Castro.
The candidate for the regional elections this Sunday spoke to reporters at 11:30 at the entrance to his polling station in Escola Profissional Dr. Francisco Fernandes in the parish of São Martinho, municipality of Funchal, where he appeared accompanied by his wife and daughter.
Answering a question about the turnout at the polling stations, which opened at 8:00 and closed at 19:00, the leader of the Chegi list admitted that he did not know, since he had recently left home, conveying the idea that was suggested to him: “I” However, we already they said that everything is going well, that people are joining, but we know that in the afternoon there will be a larger turnout.”
IL states that abstention should be everyone’s concern and that this is a special election
The head of the IL list for the regional elections in Madeira, Nuno Morna, said today that abstention should be a concern for everyone, stressing that the party has done everything to convince voters that this is a snap election.
“Abstention is always a factor that concerns and should concern everyone, including those who exercise this right, because it is also the right of people not to vote. We have done everything to convince people that this is a very special election and very special, with the feeling that it can lead to significant changes in the regional political spectrum,” Nuno Morna told reporters.
BE’s Roberto Almada calls for voting ‘to prevent abstentions from winning’
The leader of the Bloco de Esquerda list in the regional elections in Madeira, Roberto Almada, today called on Madeirans to “go to the polls” and “not let” abstain win, remembering the importance for the future of the region.
“As a voter, I also hope that people will come to the polls and not allow abstentions to win this electoral act, which is extremely important for the future of Madeira and the people of Madeira,” said the head of the BE list.
Voter turnout as of 12 noon was 20.22%.
Voter turnout by 12:00 was 20.22%, the same as in 2023, according to the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In the previous regional elections, in 2023, the voter turnout was simultaneously 20.98%, very close to the 20.97% recorded in 2019.
As a result, the percentage of abstentions remained at 46.65% last year and 44.5% in 2019.
The representative of the republic is “ready for all scenarios”
The representative of the Republic in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, admitted that he was concerned about the abstention in the regional elections that will take place this Sunday, adding that he was “prepared for all scenarios.”
The judge councilor expressed hope that these early elections will resolve the political crisis caused by the resignation of the head of the regional government (PSD/CDU), Social Democrat Miguel Albuquerque, following a judicial investigation related to suspicions of corruption in January. As a result, he was found to be a defendant.
“I hope so, that’s why we’re holding elections,” he said when asked about the situation.
CDU candidate in Madeira is confident of success “towards bigger and better democracy” in the region
The head of the CDU list (PCP/PEV) in Madeira, Edgar Silva, appeared this Sunday confident in what he considers a step “towards bigger and better democracy” in the region.
“Here in this school, which has many participants, it is too early to have indicators regarding the mobilization of people to actively participate in the electoral act, but I am confident that this will be an important step in this region. so that we can have more and better democracy,” said Edgar Silva.
“No one can get tired of democracy”: Paulo Cafofo has already voted and devalued the repeat elections in Madeira
PS Madeira leader Paulo Cafofo has already voted this Sunday in early regional elections and rejected the idea that voters could be overwhelmed by multiple trips to the polling stations.
“No one can get tired of democracy. We have lived under a dictatorship for too long,” he emphasized.
The socialist emphasized holding elections in the same year as the 50th anniversary is celebrated on April 25.
“We cannot take for granted what happened on April 25. I hope that today people will be able to vote consciously, without fear,” he added.
Kafofo hopes that these elections will be held “within the framework of democratic normality” and the number of abstentions will be reduced.
Polling stations for regional elections in Madeira have already opened.
Polling stations for Madeira’s early regional legislative elections opened this Sunday in the archipelago at 8 a.m. and closed at 7 p.m.
According to the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), there are 254,522 registered voters, of which 249,075 on the island of Madeira and 5,447 on the island of Porto Santo.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.