Arrive Madeira wants to go to elections alone and refuses to support PSD Regional Government – Politics

Chega Madeira defended the holding of regional elections this Wednesday, following the political crisis that began with suspicions of corruption in the archipelago, and assured that it will run alone, showing itself unavailable to support a possible PSD Government.

The leader of Chega’s regional structure, Miguel Castro, was received this Wednesday at the Palácio de Belém, in Lisbon, by the President of the Republic, who is listening to the parties with parliamentary seats in Madeira, regarding the possibility of dissolving the Legislative Assembly , following the political crisis caused by the dismissal of Miguel Albuquerque as president of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP), in January, after being named a defendant in a judicial investigation into suspected corruption in the archipelago.

Miguel Castro highlighted that the position that Chega took to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was “exactly the same” that he had already conveyed to the Republic’s representative in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto.

“We think that the Madeiran people should express themselves through voting. We think there should be elections”, he said, highlighting that Chega/Madeira will “obviously” accept the decision that the head of state takes.

The leader denied any availability for contacts or agreements with the PSD of Madeira with a view to making a future Regional Government viable.

“No, we are not available. Chega will go to the elections alone, Chega has its electorate and it is this electorate that Chega has to respect, because our electorate expects a change, a political alternative, and that is what we are going to run for to the elections,” he said.

“No, we are not available. We are not available to make a Government with Miguel Albuquerque viable”, he reiterated, after insistence from journalists.

This Wednesday, the President of the Republic is holding meetings with the nine parties with parliamentary seats in Madeira from 10 am, before meeting at 6 pm the Council of State, the political consultation body of the head of State, in which the should assess the scenario of dissolution of the Madeira Regional Legislative Assembly and calling early elections.

Until lunchtime, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa listened to the BE, the PAN, which has a parliamentary advocacy agreement with the PSD, the IL, the CDU and Chega, and this Wednesday should receive the CDS-PP, the JPP, PS and PSD.

The head of state regained the power to dissolve the archipelago’s parliament this week, six months after regional elections were held in Madeira, on September 24, 2023.

If Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa chooses not to dissolve the regional parliament, the representative of the Republic, Ireneu Barreto, will appoint “the president and other members of a new Regional Government”.

On Monday, Miguel Albuquerque argued that there is no justification for early legislation in Madeira and announced that negotiations were in the final stages to assure the President of the Republic that the PSD/CDS-PP majority would remain with the parliamentary support of the PAN.

On the same day, the PAN’s sole deputy, Mónica Freitas, refused to have any formal agreement with the PSD, but admitted to being available to make the Regional Government Program and the region’s Budget viable if there are no elections. Previously, the party had said that it would only maintain the understanding if Miguel Albuquerque left the executive presidency.

The Madeiran opposition has defended early elections.