The hearing of the three people arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption in Madeira, including the mayor of Funchal, will begin at 10am on Saturday at the Central Criminal Investigation Court in Lisbon.
The arrests of two businessmen and the mayor of Funchal followed an operation that also affected the president of the regional government (PSD/CDS-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, who was named as a defendant and announced on Friday that he would leave his position.
According to the Judicial Police, these include suspicions of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, improperly obtaining or offering advantages, abuse of power and abuse of influence.
On Friday morning, the detainees were identified, and during interrogation they will become familiar with the contents of the case.
Lawyer Paulo Sae Cunha, representing the mayor of Funchal, said Pedro Calado will make statements this Saturday to “clarify the truth.”
Raul Soares da Veiga, the lawyer of Avelino Fariña, one of the detained businessmen, also said that his client will answer everything.
Following the filing, the case is now in the hands of Judge Jorge Melo because the judge who owned it is on vacation, a court source said.
On Wednesday, after about 130 searches at home and outside carried out by the PS, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the continent, the mayor of Funchal Pedro Calado (PSD), leader of the party, according to a source in the investigation, Lusa reported construction group AFA Avelino Fariña and CEO and main shareholder of the construction group Socicorreia Custódio Correia, who is Avelino Fariña’s partner in several companies.
Also indicted as part of the process was the president of the regional government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), who initially said he would not resign.
After criticism from various political circles, Miguel Albuquerque announced on Friday that he will leave his position and that the PSD Regional Council will discuss and approve on Monday the name of the head of the Madeira government from the SDS/CDU-PP coalition with the parliamentary support of the PAN.
Meanwhile, PS/Madeira has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Madeira government, which is expected to be discussed and voted on on February 7, while Chega/Madeira has also announced its intention to table another motion of no confidence.
PS/Madeira, the largest opposition party, refuses to accept that the current regional government (PSD/CDS-PP) will remain even if another leader is chosen to replace Miguel Albuquerque, and defends the need for early elections.
The PAN, which holds a majority in the government thanks to a parliamentary influence agreement with the PSD/CDS-PP, is ready to “ensure the stability of the government” in Madeira until Miguel Albuquerque leaves the government.
The President of the Republic stated that he does not foresee scenarios for the development of the political situation in Madeira and noted that at present the regional government can only be dismissed through censorship of the Regional Assembly.
In the Autonomous Region of Madeira, elections for the Legislative Assembly took place on September 24, so a possible dissolution could only occur after March 24, according to a law that prohibits the dissolution of parliaments within six months of elections.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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