PSD Madeira activists today elect a leader to tackle the crisis

PSD/Madeira activists will elect new leadership this Thursday in internal elections between current leader Miguel Albuquerque and Manuel Antonio Correia, repeating the confrontation that took place in 2014.

The elections come after a political crisis caused by the dismissal of regional government (PSD/SDS) chairman Miguel Albuquerque in January after he was named as a defendant in a judicial investigation into alleged corruption in the archipelago.

The trial, which began the same month, also saw the arrest and resignation of the Funchal Chamber’s president, Social Democrat Pedro Calado, but the investigating judge released him after 21 days, finding that “there was no evidence.” “corruption. The same thing happened to two jailed construction businessmen.

Of the more than 12,000 PSD/Madeira fighters, more than 4,000 fighters will be able to choose a new leader this Thursday at municipal and parish headquarters located throughout the region, from 17:30 to 20:00. :30 p.m.

In the 2014 internal elections, choosing the successor to historical leader Alberto João Jardim, Miguel Albuquerque defeated Manuel António Correia, then regional secretary, in the second round with about 63% of the votes.

Miguel Albuquerque, born May 4, 1961 (age 62), born in Funchal, is a lawyer whose political resume includes the presidency of the Chamber of Funchal (1994-2013) and the regional government of Madeira since 2015. .

He resigned on January 26 after the only PAN deputy refused to submit to the agreement on parliamentary influence that guaranteed an absolute majority for the PSD/SDS coalition in the Madeira Legislative Assembly.

The PSD even tried to replace the chief executive, but this decision was criticized by most parties with seats in parliament and was ultimately rejected by the representative of the republic in the archipelago, Ireneu Barreto, who transferred the decision to the chief executive. statesman Marcelo Rebelo de Souza.

However, just six months after the previous elections – in this case on Sunday, March 24 – the regional parliament can be dissolved. If Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa does not choose dissolution as new elections are called, Ireneu Barreto will appoint a new regional executive director, a decision made by PAN to maintain parliamentary understanding while there is a new leader.

Following the decision of the investigative judge in the investigation into alleged corruption on February 19, Albuquerque announced the appointment of internal elections and a regional congress for April 19 and 20, noting “some movement” in the party.

Then he said: “I have all the political conditions. [para voltar a ser candidato]because I was never bought. I have 30 years of public life, I have never been corrupted by anyone. I have a clear conscience.”

Manuel António Correia, also a lawyer, was Regional Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources under Alberto João Jardim (2000–2015).

The candidate was born on February 19, 1965 (age 59), and was also President of the Madeira Housing Institute (1997-2000).

After 10 years of absence from political life, Manuel Antonio Correia now says that he has responded to “cross-cutting requests” from people from different fields, profiles, ages and groups – to “show the way” for the party structure. He advocates “the renewal of the political class, the main leaders.”

He is participating in this race because he recognizes that Madeira is going through “a very difficult moment” and has been “in a political quagmire for some time”, and believes that “the list led by Miguel Albuquerque and its political core, at this moment, in the face of this problems, not solutions.”

The candidate enjoys the public support of Alberto João Jardim, leader of the PSD/Madeira and regional government between 1978 and 2015.