This Wednesday, Belgium/Madeira confirmed that early elections should be called after the resignation of the regional government (PSD/CDU-PP), emphasizing that the party is not afraid of a popular vote and is not closing the door to reaching an agreement with the PS.
“We are ready for the elections and no party should be afraid to vote,” said regional coordinator Dina Letra after meeting with the representative of the Republic of Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, at the Palacio de São Lourenço in Funchal.
The Representative of the Republic began this Wednesday to listen to the parties with seats in the Legislative Assembly, following the dismissal on Monday of the president of the regional government and the subsequent dismissal of the executive after Miguel Albuquerque was accused in the context of an investigation into alleged corruption in Madeira.
Dina Letra, who was accompanied by the only BE deputy in the regional parliament, Roberto Almada, said that the party does not accept any other scenario than early elections, stressing that “Madeirans deserve this respect.”
“Because we have a political emergency, there is a need to hold early elections whenever constitutionally possible so that the new government that will govern Madeira for the next four years has that popular legitimacy,” he stressed.
The BE coordinator believes that the majority supported by the Madeira executive – PSD and CDS-PP in coalition, with the parliamentary support of the sole PAN deputy – does not have the ability to maintain itself during the legislative assembly.
“She has always been very unstable, constantly changing her opinion, and in this sense we believe that there are no conditions to guarantee the completeness of the legislative body,” he said.
Dina Letra, on the other hand, stressed that the Bloc de Esquerda is not afraid of early elections, despite the fact that the party won only one deputy in the regional legislatures in September 2023.
The bloc leader said she had already met with the PS, Madeira’s largest opposition party, but explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the vote of no confidence put forward by the Socialists, which, however, was withdrawn after the resignation of the Madeiran president. Regional government, social democrat Miguel Albuquerque.
Dina Letra admits that she is negotiating an agreement with PS/Madeira, but considers it premature to make decisions on this matter.
“We do not close our doors, we are a democratic party, we are a responsible party, we are also a party of dialogue, and in this sense we will take the decisions that must be made if this issue comes to an end. be on the table,” he reinforced.
In addition to the BE, the representative of the Republic hosts this Wednesday the PAN and the Liberal Initiative, and meetings are scheduled for Thursday with the PCP, CDS-PP, Chega and Juntos pelo Povo (JPP).
Representatives of the PS and SDP will be received on Friday.
The hearing was scheduled after the representative of the Republic, Ireneu Barreto, officially accepted on Monday a request for dismissal from the President of the XIV Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, who was named as a defendant in the investigation. due to suspicions of corruption in the region.
After this round of hearings, the representative will decide on the situation in the government in Madeira, since the President of the Republic can only intervene in the process from March 24, when the Legislative Assembly will complete its six months of mandate provided by law.
On January 24, the Judicial Police (SP) carried out some 130 searches at home and outside, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the continent, as part of the process of investigating suspicions of active and passive actions. corruption, participation in economic activities in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering of undue advantage, abuse of power and undue influence.
Two days later, Miguel Albuquerque, now a defendant, resigned from his position.
Following the searches, the SP detained the then mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado (NSD), who also resigned from his post, the leader of the AFA construction group, Avelino Fariña, and the main shareholder of the civil engineering group Socicorreia. , Custodio Correia.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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