The President of the Republic said this Friday that he does not foresee developments regarding the political situation in Madeira after the president of the regional government was named as a defendant in an investigation into suspicions of corruption, among other crimes. “Right now I have no power. In two months I will be able to intervene,” he emphasized.
The Head of State noted that the regional government can only be dismissed by decision of the Regional Assembly and that, as President of the Republic, he only has the right to dissolve the regional assemblies, which, in the case of Madeira, he currently does not have, since since the last elections have passed six months.
“I cannot, no matter how much imagination I have as an analyst, build scenarios that go beyond reality,” Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told reporters in the Figueira da Foz municipality, noting that he was not aware of any request to President of the Regional Government Miguel Albuquerque.
According to the law, the President of the Republic is responsible for “dissolving the Legislative Assemblies of the Autonomous Regions after consultation with the Council of State and the parties represented in them,” but in this case, if he decides to do so, he will only be able to issue a decree on March 24, six months after the election of the current Regional Assembly of Madeira, for elections on September 24.
“I do not have specific data on what will happen, but what will happen will pass through the representative of the Republic of the Autonomous Region of Madeira,” added Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, reiterating that this representative will exercise his powers if they arise. new reality.
The President of the Republic is aware of the fact that the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the President of the Chamber of Funchal have become defendants in another trial, shortly after another trial led to the resignation of the national government. as an “example” of the functioning of judicial institutions.
“Know that there is an independent judiciary and that whoever is the subject of court decisions or prosecutorial investigations can be on equal terms a citizen and an economic, social, political or cultural person. This is strengthening Portugal’s confidence in institutions,” he emphasized.
The current political crisis in Madeira, caused by judicial investigations affecting the regional executive headed by Miguel Albuquerque, comes at a time when a decision to dissolve the region’s Legislative Assembly cannot be officially made for the next two months, until March 24.
Article 172 of the Constitution specifies that no assembly may be dissolved “within six months after its election.”
Faced with a national political crisis that began with the resignation of Prime Minister António Costa on 7 November, the President of the Republic announced on 9 November that he would dissolve parliament and call early legislative elections for 10 March.
Legislative elections were called four months in advance (with António Costa remaining head of government during this period and until a new chief executive took office) and were not officially convened until more than two months later, on 15 January. when the Assembly of the Republic was dissolved.
Author: morning Post This Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.