The leader of PS/Madeira and head of the party’s list of candidates, Sérgio Gonçalves, this Sunday called on Madeirans to vote in the regional legislative assemblies, stressing that this electoral act is “the maximum expression of autonomy.”
“Today is a very important day for the future of Madeira, it is also the maximum expression of our autonomy. Therefore, first of all, I urge Madeirans who are going to vote to decide their future and vote with their conscience,” he said. said.
Sérgio Gonçalves spoke to reporters after voting at the polling station in the parish of Santa Luzia, located in Escola Secundária Francisco Franco, in the center of Funchal, where he stood in line for about ten minutes.
The leader of the region’s largest opposition party expressed hope that “the elections will be held normally, respecting democratic principles and values, and that the people of Madeira will be conscious, free, and come and vote.”
“This is, in fact, the most important day, the day of choosing the composition of our main body of self-government – the Regional Legislative Assembly – and this is the maximum expression of our autonomy,” he said, and then reinforced: “It is very important that all Madeirans take part in this electoral act, have decided your future, and therefore I repeat my call to you to come and vote.”
More than 253,000 voters are convened this Sunday to vote in Madeira’s regional legislatures to choose the archipelago’s new parliament, with 13 candidates in the race.
The 292 polling stations, distributed across 54 districts in 11 municipalities in the archipelago, opened at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.
According to the General Secretariat of the Ministry of the Interior, there are 253,865 registered voters, of which 248,519 are on the island of Madeira and 5,346 on the island of Porto Santo.
At stake are 47 seats in the regional parliament, for which two coalitions and 11 other parties are fighting in one district: PTP, JPP, BE, PS, Chega, RIR, MPT, ADN, PSD/CDS-PP (Somos Madeira coalition). , PAN, Livre, CDU (PCP/PEV) and IL.
Four years ago – when abstentions stood at 44.5% – the Social Democrats elected 21 deputies, losing for the first time the absolute majority they had held since 1976, and formed a coalition government with the SDS-PP (three deputies). The PS received 19 mandates, the AKP – three and the CDU – one.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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