PS Madeira convened a meeting of its political committee for Wednesday to analyze the moment of “political instability” in the region following a corruption investigation involving the chairmen of the regional government and the Funchal chamber.
In a notice sent on Tuesday, PS Madeira states that the purpose of the meeting is to “discuss the political instability caused by the corruption scandal in the regional government and Funchal city council, the disastrous actions of the three parties supporting the government. [Regional] and the urgent need for early elections.”
PS Madeira leader Paulo Cafofo said on Monday that the current chief executive should remain in power until early elections are held because the region’s Political-Administrative Statute does not provide for the replacement of the regional government president.
“It is very important that early elections are held in the region, and it is very important that the President of the Republic makes clear his intention to dissolve the Assembly and call early elections. There can be no double standards,” insisted Paulo Cafofo.
According to Article 62 of the Political-Administrative Statute of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the dismissal of the executive involves “the presentation of a request for dismissal by the President of the Regional Government.”
Madeira Government President Miguel Albuquerque (NSD) was named as a defendant on Wednesday in an investigation into suspected corruption in Madeira, in a process that also led to the arrest of Funchal Mayor Pedro Calado (PSD), and two businessmen linked to the construction sector.
Two days later, he announced his resignation from his position, which he formalized on Monday with the representative of the Republic, but Ireneu Barreto decided that it would not take immediate effect, despite the fact that he accepted it.
For its part, the PAN Political Committee – the party that demanded the resignation of Miguel Albuquerque in order to preserve the agreement on parliamentary influence that guarantees the absolute majority of the PSD/USD coalition in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira – stated that it agrees that Miguel Albuquerque’s resignation only took effect after the approval of the archipelago’s budget for 2024 “in the name of stability.”
As for the CDS-PP Madeira, a party that partners with the PSD in the regional government, its leader Rui Barreto demanded on Monday the immediate dismissal of Miguel Albuquerque and the appointment of a new leader.
On Wednesday, the Judicial Police (JP) 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 the then mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, was arrested. (PSD), leader of the construction group AFA Avelino Fariña and main shareholder of the civil engineering group Socicorreia, Custódio Correia.
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.
According to court documents to which Luza had access, prosecutors allege that Miguel Albuquerque, Pedro Calado and Avelino Fariña “over time developed a relationship of special intimacy and trust” that benefited the businessman “despite the rules of free competition.” and government procurement.”
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.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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