From the moment he takes up his position, which is still unknown, the new leader of the Azores will be given up to 10 days to present the government program, and a period in addition to five days to evaluate the document.
“The program of the regional government is submitted for consideration and voting to the Legislative Assembly, which [se] must meet for this purpose before the 15th day after the entry into office of the regional government,” states the Political-Administrative Statute of the Azores, which states that debates cannot exceed three days.
The approval of the Program, which “contains the main political directions and measures to be adopted or proposed,” is one of the powers of the regional parliament specified in the Statute, and until the end of its discussion, “any parliamentary group may propose rejection” of the document presented by the new leader, excluding BE, IL and PAN.
Each of the three parties elected one deputy in the regional legislative assemblies on February 4, Chega received five and the PS 23. The SDP/CDU/PPM coalition won the vote with 26 deputies (not counting the 29 absolute majority). , and Social Democrat Jose Manuel Boleiro, newly appointed chairman of the regional government, said he would govern the country with a relative majority.
The new parliament took office on Thursday with 57 members, retaining the same political forces that were represented in the previous legislature, with a total of eight parties.
The right-wing coalition and the socialists agreed on the distribution of positions in the Council, dividing the positions of two vice-presidents and two secretaries. Social Democrat Luis García remains president.
Unlike 2020, when the PS won the elections without an absolute majority and the PSD, SDS and NPM formed an alternative government solution with parliamentary agreements with Chega and IL, no agreements were signed in support of governance this year.
Chega, who won two lawmakers in 2020, said after the election campaign that her goal is to join the executive until regional leaders of the SDF and PPP are included in the government list.
Chega voted on the Government Program depending on its content and composition of the executive branch, and IL and PAN also sent a decision after familiarizing themselves with the document. PS and BE have already announced their no vote.
According to the Political-Administrative Statute, which replaces the rules of the regional parliament, as Lusa confirmed to party sources, to reject the Program requires “an absolute majority of deputies in full force,” that is, 29 elected representatives (out of a total of 57), five more than the declared total the number of MPs from both parties who voted against.
If Chega chooses the same position, the document will be rejected. If the party abstains, the vote will not reach an absolute majority and the document will become viable even if IL and PAN vote against it.
Rejection of the document, as defined in the Statute, “implies the resignation of the regional government,” in which case the chairman of the executive branch remains in office and retires on the day of the inauguration of the new president.
During this period it will have to be “confined to the practice of acts strictly necessary to secure the day-to-day administration of public affairs.”
The Political-Administrative Statute does not specify whether, in case of deviation, another political force is invited to govern or new elections are called, but according to Article 69, the Legislative Assembly “shall not be dissolved within six months after its elections,” that is, until July 4 .
“In the event of the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, elections are held within a maximum period of 60 days under penalty of the legal absence of this law,” it is also noted.
The date for the inauguration of Boleiro’s team, for which the Charter does not specify a deadline, has not yet been announced.
A source close to the presidium of the regional government only told Lusa that “the deadlines provided for by law will be met” until the Program is presented. Subject to legal options, his vote could take place after the national legislative elections on March 10.
The regional elections on February 4 followed the rejection in November of proposals for the region’s plan and budget for this year due to the abstention of Chegi and PAN and votes against PS, IL and BE. The situation led to the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, dissolving parliament and calling early elections.
Author: 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.