The regional council of the PSD of Madeira approved by a majority vote this Wednesday the dates and rules for the internal elections and the party congress, convened after the political crisis that led to the dismissal of the leader of the PSD/SDS-PP.
“There was one vote against and six abstentions,” said the organization’s president, João Cunha e Silva, at the end of the extraordinary meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the PSD regional structure in Funchal.
Direct elections will be held on March 21, with a regional congress scheduled for April 20 and 21, and Miguel Albuquerque, the party leader and outgoing president of the regional government, has already admitted that he will “almost certainly” re-nominate. leadership.
“The purpose of this marking [eleições internas e congresso] occurred due to a change in political circumstances,” explained João Cunha e Silva, adding that this change “awaits the decision of the President of the Republic.”
On Saturday, the representative of the Republic of Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, announced that he will retain control of the regional government until the head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, decides to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, which can only happen after the 24th of March, six months after the last regional legislative elections.
Joao Cunha e Silva assured that the PSD is ready for Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to call on the party chairman to form a new government based on the current parliamentary majority of the PSD/CDU-PP/PAN or in the event of early elections being called. .
“Our goal is clearly political: to achieve by the 24th [de março]what is the planned date for the entry into office of the President of the Republic, everything is decided from the point of view of legitimacy,” he explained, and then confirmed: “We will go into any of the situations with all the legitimacy, the willpower, to continue to serve the social democratic project, Madeira and to the people of Madeira.”
The chairman of the SDP Regional Council, the Social Democrats’ highest body between congresses, played down criticism from some activists about the tight deadline for nominating candidates for the party’s leadership.
“From now on, the process is open, which continues under the guidance of the Jurisdictional Council and the party secretariat regarding doubts and the availability of funds that will be available to everyone who wants to apply,” he explained.
On the other hand, João Cunha e Silva warned activists of the importance of not diverting their attention from Madeira’s interests.
“And this is what we will continue to do so that everyone continues to progress and can live better,” he said.
At the end of January, Miguel Albuquerque announced that he would step down as president of the regional government, which he has held since 2015, after he was named as a defendant in a trial investigating suspected corruption in the archipelago.
The resignation of Miguel Albuquerque, formally accepted by the representative of the Republic in Madeira only more than a week later, on February 5, led to the fall of the PSD/SDS-PP executive power, with the parliamentary support of the MND. an agreement that allowed the coalition to have an absolute majority.
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.
Following this operation, 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.
The three accused were released last Wednesday with identification documents and residence permits, three weeks after their arrest.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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