Political forces in Madeira plan to spend about 950 thousand euros on the election campaign

The 14 political forces participating in the early elections on May 26 in Madeira expect to spend 949,678.34 thousand euros on the election campaign, according to the budgets consulted by Lusa, with the PSD leading in spending: 340 thousand euros.

Of the 13 parties and coalition that submitted lists of candidates to the Funchal court, the electoral budgets of the Socialist Party Bloc de Esquerda (BE) have been published since April 16 on the website of the Directorate of Political Accounting and Finance (ECFP). (PS), Livre (L), Liberal Initiative (IL), React, Include, Recycle (RIR), CDU – Unitary Democratic Coalition (PCP/PEV), Chega (CH), CDS – People’s Party (CDS). -PP), Earth Party (MPT), Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD), People-Animals-Nature (PAN), Portuguese Labor Party (PTP) and Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP).

According to the website of the Office of Political Accounting and Finance, the National Democratic Alternative (ADN), which is the first political force on the ballot, has not submitted a budget, but party list leader Miguel Pita told Lusa that the document will be sent to this Monday, which states the cost is 10,000 euros.

The PSD is the party that plans to spend the most money on the election campaign, which will take place from May 14 to 24, with a budget of 340,000 euros, of which 250,000 comes from government subsidies and 90,000 from donations from political parties.

The largest part of the Social Democrats’ budget – 90,000 euros – will be allocated to advertising, print and digital communications, followed by structures, posters and screens (75,000), gifts and other offers (75,000), as well as rallies and show (60,000). ).

According to budgets available on the ECFP website, the PS is the second party to invest the most in the election campaign – 150,000 euros, the entire amount of which comes from public subsidies – devoting the largest portion (75,000) to rallies and shows. .

Next comes the CDS-PP with an expected cost of 100,000 euros, of which 25,000 for structures, posters and screens.

JPP plans to spend €96,100 on the campaign, with the majority (20,000) going towards structures, posters and screens.

The CDU is the fifth political force with the highest budget (80,000 euros), followed by IL (60,000), BE (42,720), PAN (30,358.34), Chega (25,000), Livre (10,000), PTP (5,000) and RIR (500).

The DPT does not plan to spend any funds, as happened in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

In the regional legislative assemblies in September 2023, two coalitions competed – SDP/CDS-PP and CDU (PCP/PEV) – and 11 other parties: PTP, JPP, BE, PS, Chega, RIR, MPT, ADN, PAN, Livre. and IL, which provided a total campaign expenditure forecast of approximately €1,133,816.95.

PS presented the highest value (400 thousand euros), while PSD and CDS-PP, which competed together that year, indicated 380 thousand euros.

Among the 47 mandates received in the 2023 elections, the PSD/CDU-NP coalition received 23 deputies, the PS elected 11, the AKP five and Chega four, while the CDU, IL, PAN and BE elected one deputy each.

The events of May 26 occurred eight months after the last regional law was adopted, after the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, dissolved the Madeira parliament following a political crisis provoked in January, when the leader of the regional government (CDS-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, was named defendant in a process that is investigating suspicions of corruption.

Albuquerque subsequently resigned, leading to the leader’s downfall.