Paulo Cafofo is convinced that he will win and form a government in Madeira

The head of the PS list in the regional elections in Madeira, Paulo Cafofo, expressed this Thursday his belief in victory and believes that he will be able to form a government, reiterating that he only sets “red lines” for the PSD and Chegi.

On this penultimate day of the campaign, the Socialists began with a rally in the center of Funchal, demanding a vote of confidence from the population and arguing that it was necessary to change the direction of the region.

They handed out flowers, brochures and pens as usual and also received strength and good wishes from some of the townspeople.

Paulo Cafofo approached people on the streets, in cafes, and merchants and asked them to vote for the PS. On Rua João Tavira, a barber on the ground floor asked for a bouquet of flowers, and Cafofo threw two flowers to the barbers standing by the window.

“We cannot continue to get bogged down in this regime, and I truly believe that on May 26 we will win and the PS will form a government, and this will be a historical fact. This is not for the PS, but for this.” region and the people of Madeira, and that they deserve it,” he told reporters.

The PS/Madeira leader also confirmed that the “prohibited direction” is the PSD and Chega, adding that once the election results are known, the PS will see what opportunity it will have “to come to an agreement with the parties that are in conditions and therefore need”.

The socialist also noted that “the protest vote, namely for Chega, is a vote for Miguel Albuquerque,” ​​noting that the head of the list, Miguel Castro, and the national leader of the party, André Ventura, “have already recognized the feasibility and support of Miguel Albuquerque.”

“And the people know, the people of Madeira and Porto Santos know that they have two choices: either Miguel Albuquerque remains president of the government [Regional]or myself Paulo Cafofo, so that we can transform the region and solve the problems they have never been able to solve,” he insisted.

Paulo Cafofo confirmed his commitment, if he forms a government, to reduce the IRS and VAT by applying the 30% difference allowed by the Regional Finance Law.

Regarding the other candidates, namely the outgoing regional government president and head of the PSD list, Miguel Albuquerque, who claims that the Socialists’ proposals are not feasible, the PS/Madeira president stressed that “it is a matter of priorities” and assured that once again that there is “ budget deficit” for PS measures.

“Do you know what their bills are? Add up inequality and poverty, this is what he knows how to do, and subtract the income of the Madeirans,” he confirmed.

The Socialist, on the other hand, discounted the poll published today by the Diário de Notícia das Madeira, which gives the PSD victory with 38.1% of the vote, arguing that the polls “are used for a much lesser purpose than determining the results.”

Sunday’s legislative elections in Madeira will feature 14 candidates vying for 47 seats in the regional parliament in one constituency: ADN, BE, PS, Livre, IL, RIR, CDU (PCP/PEV), Chega, CDS-PP. , MPT, PSD, PAN, PTP and JPP.

The early elections will take place eight months after the last regional legislative elections, after the President of the Republic dissolved the Parliament of Madeira following the political crisis provoked in January, when the leader of the regional government (PSD/CDU-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, was named as a defendant in the process, in during which suspicions of corruption are being investigated.

In September 2023, the PSD/SDS coalition won without an absolute majority and elected 23 deputies. The PS received 11 mandates, the JPP received five, the Chega received four, and the CDU, IL, PAN (which signed an agreement on parliamentary protection with the Social Democrats) and BE received one mandate each.