Madeira: Miguel Albuquerque hopes for a “relegitimized and clarified PSD political direction”

The leader of the PSD/Madeira and resigning president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, defends the importance of “relegitimizing” the leadership of the party structure in Thursday’s elections, before the President of the Republic’s decision on the political crisis in the archipelago.

“What we have to do right now is, until March 24th, when the President of the Republic has to make a decision on Madeira, have a PSD political direction relegitimized and clarified“, said Miguel Albuquerque, who is running for president of PSD/Madeira again, in an interview with the Lusa agency.

The Social Democrat recalled that it was re-elected president of the executive (currently in management) in the regional legislatures of September 2023in a vote in which the PSD/CDS coalition won in the 11 municipalities and in 52 of the 54 parishes of the autonomous region.

In January, a judicial investigation into suspected corruption in Madeira became known, in which he was named a defendant, which led to his dismissal as head of the Regional Government. The process was also marked by the arrest and resignation of the mayor of Funchal, the social democrat Pedro Calado, but the investigating judge ended up releasing him after 21 days, considering there was “no evidence” of corruption.

“There was a period of 21 days in which there was a situation of paralysis in the party’s political agenda”, said Albuquerque, reaffirming that he only resigned because the PAN’s only deputy – with whom the PSD concluded a parliamentary understanding to have an absolute majority – gave him removed political trust.

Now, he stressed, “this political crisis must be overcome” and the first signal was given on March 10, in the national legislatures, won in the region by the PSD/CDS coalition.

“It has once again been confirmed that the confidence of Madeirans in the coalition and in me as leader of the coalition he remained”, he pointed out, highlighting that the candidacy reinforced the vote in relation to the national elections in 2022, 2019 and 2015.

Stating that he is aware of his status as a defendant, especially because he has a degree in Law and worked in the criminal area, the leader stressed that this is “a defense statute, to guarantee the defense of whoever is being investigated”.

“Of course, I will always collaborate with the authorities in order to clarify”, he said, adding that he has not yet been contacted for this purpose.

Despite the lawsuit, Albuquerque understands not being able to “abdicate that mandate that was given by the Madeiran people”because he is not condemned, and says not feel fragilefor having work in the archipelago “recognized by everyone”.

“The economy is doing well. We are investing in works essential, such as the biggest project in the country at the moment, which is the Madeira Central and University Hospital. We are with responses in the social areaparticularly with the construction of 600 or so housesplus continued care with PRR investments [Programa de Recuperação e Resiliência] and also in homes“, he enumerated.

In addition to nine years as president of the Madeiran executive, his career includes 19 as leader of the Funchal Chamber.

“And there is no one on this earth – and we all know each other – who can accuse me of any wrongful conduct.”he stressed.

In his reading, “everything comes together so that, on March 24th, the President of the Republic will be able to make his choices with a relegitimized leadership and a party that continues to have the trust of Madeirans and Porto Santos”.

The internal elections in the PSD/Madeira, disputed with former regional secretary Manuel António Correia, will result in a new political cycle in which it is considered necessary to maintain economic growth, ensure a “framework of stability to maintain internal and external investment”, and diversify the economy.

Also fundamental for Albuquerque are the new hospital, new nursing homes, the renovation of long-term care beds and the review of the Regional Finance Law to guarantee its own tax system, among other measures.

On March 24, six months after the regional legislatures, the period in which the Legislative Assembly cannot be dissolved ends. The head of state, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will then decide whether to move forward with the dissolution and schedule elections. If he does not do so, the representative for the Republic in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, will appoint a new Regional Government, a solution accepted by the PAN as long as Albuquerque is not reappointed.