BE Madeira confirms its defense of early elections in meeting with Marcelo

B.E. Madeira is in favor of holding early regional elections to “clarify” after the political crisis that arose from suspicions of corruption in the archipelago, MP Roberto Almada said this Wednesday after a meeting with the President of the Republic in Lisbon.

“We understand that there must be clarifications, the start of the work of a new parliament, from which a new government will emerge. [Regional]. Only in this way could we re-legitimize the power of the Legislative Assembly and the power of the regional government of Madeira,” he said as he left a meeting at the Belem Palace.

The only BE MP in the regional parliament, accompanied by the party’s national MP Marisa Mathias, stressed that “there is a repeat candidate for the next election who is suspected of several serious crimes”, which “has a certain seriousness” for the party.

“Naturally, if the President of the Republic decides to call elections, the people of Madeira will have the opportunity to comment on all this,” he emphasized.

Roberto Almada also expressed regret that Miguel Albuquerque, still president of the regional government of Madeira and a likely candidate, “opened the door to the far right”, given that there are no red lines with Chega.

“We believe that this will be a very big risk for democracy, for the autonomy of Madeira, for Madeira and for the people of Madeira, but here BE will lead a political fight against right-wing ideas. This debate will take place and BE will lead this fight,” he ruled.

This Wednesday, the President of the Republic hears from the parties with seats in the Parliament of Madeira regarding the possibility of dissolving the Legislative Assembly after the political crisis caused by the dismissal of Miguel Albuquerque as President of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP) in January, after his named as a defendant in a judicial investigation into suspected corruption in the archipelago.

In addition to hearing the nine parties represented – PSD, CDS-PP, PS, JPP, Chega, HDZ, IL, PAN (which has a parliamentary protection agreement with the PSD) and BE – Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will convene the Council of State – the political advisory body of the head states.

The hearings of the President of the Republic with the parties with seats in Parliament take place from 10 am this Wednesday in order of increasing representation: they began with BE at 10 am, followed by PAN, IL, PCP, CDS-PP and Chega.

In the afternoon, the head of state listens to the AKP, PS and SDP.

At 18:00 there will be a meeting of the Council of State, an advisory body to the president, at which the scenario of dissolving the Regional Legislative Assembly of Madeira and calling early elections will be assessed.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa can call early elections or keep the current regional government – in control – on the basis of a parliamentary majority formed by the PSD and SDS-PP in a coalition, with the support of the PAN.

The head of state restored the right to dissolve the archipelago’s parliament this week, six months after regional elections were held in Madeira on September 24, 2023.

If Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decides not to dissolve the regional parliament, the representative of the Republic, Ireneu Barreto, will appoint “the president and other members of the new regional government.”

On Monday, Miguel Albuquerque said there was no reason to pass the Madeira law early and announced that negotiations were in the final stages to assure the President of the Republic that the PSD/SDS-PP majority would remain with the parliamentary support of the MHP.

On the same day, the only PAN deputy, Monica Freitas, refused to enter into any formal agreement with the PSD, but admitted that she was ready to make the regional government program and regional budget viable if elections did not take place. The party previously said it would only maintain the understanding if Albuquerque stepped down as executive president.

Madeira’s opposition defended the conduct of the elections.