PS Madeira insists on early elections and accuses the PSD of blackmail

The President of the Madeira PS, Paulo Cafofo, confirmed this Friday the need for early regional elections, accusing the PSD of “blackmail” and causing “social anxiety”, saying that the region will “stand still”.

“We cannot accept that there is blackmail, that there is fear or that people want to cause social anxiety and panic with the express purpose of benefiting the parties currently in power, either for their own benefit or to continue debauchery, and that there is goodwill that we have all witnessed in the midst of this mega-process,” said Paulo Cafofo.

The president of the regional PS spoke to reporters after meeting with the representative of the Republic of Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, at the Palacio de São Lourenço in Funchal.

“The Socialist Party has come here at the request of the representative of the Republic to express its opinion regarding the steps that should be taken in the face of this political crisis. And our position is that it is absolutely necessary, even imperative, that there will be early elections and that after the early elections, within the appropriate constitutional time frame, a new government will be formed in the region,” said Paulo Cafofo.

The socialist added that he could not “accept the public opinion that Madeira will stop, that people will not have wages, there will be no reforms for the people, all work will stop, the PRR is compromised and it is the public funds that are compromised.”

“No, Madeira will not stop because it has no budget, and it will not stop because it has a manageable government. In fact, the only person responsible for the lack of budget is the NDP/NCD. They did not want, just as the Representative of the Republic would like, for this budget to be approved before the dismissal of Miguel Albuquerque as President of the Government,” he said.

Paulo Cafofo noted that “the majority of Madeirans want elections, the majority of parties want elections, and even within the PSD itself there are those who want elections, as was the case with the former president of the regional government and PSD/Madeira Alberto Sade João.”

The Socialist leader also said that since the investigation into alleged corruption in Madeira began two weeks ago, the region has seen “disorientation and instability” from the majority parties, referring to the PSD/SDS.PP coalition that heads the regional executive and PAN, which signed an agreement for parliamentary protection after the last regional legislative elections.

“And therefore, the only way to guarantee stability and restore the trust of the people is through early elections. And we do not need to be afraid of early elections, this is the best way to make democracy work,” he insisted.

On Wednesday, the representative of the Republic began to listen to the parties with seats in the Legislative Assembly, following the dismissal on Monday of the president of the regional government and the subsequent dismissal of the executive after Miguel Albuquerque (PSD) was formed. accused as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in Madeira.

After this round of hearings, the representative will decide on the situation in the government in Madeira, since the President of the Republic can only intervene in the process from March 24, when the Legislative Assembly completes its six months of mandate by law.