Marcelo will dissolve the Madeira Parliament and schedule elections for May 26

The President of the Republic heard the delegations of the parties with parliamentary seats in Madeira and then met the State Council. But hours before making the decision official, he made it known what his wishes were, as anticipated by Paulo Cafôfo, leader of the regional PS

The President of the Republic will dissolve the Parliament of Madeira and call early elections in the region for May 26, announced Paulo Cafôfo, speaking to journalists after this Wednesday’s audience with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the Belém Palace.

Confirmation would arrive hours later, via the Presidency’s website, and after the State Council meeting.

“The Council of State (…) gave a favorable opinion, by a majority of voters, to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The President of the Republic thus decided to dissolve the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and schedule the elections for May 26, 2024 (…)”, can be read in the released statement.

Unlike the representatives of the remaining parties in Madeira, who throughout the morning refused to state the President of the Republic’s position on this matter, Paulo Cafôfo revealed Marcelo’s decision, noting that he left the meeting “satisfied”.

“In this field, we are in tune with the President of the Republic, both in terms of reasons and in decisions. And the President of the Republic conveyed to us his intention to dissolve the Regional Assembly and to call elections for May 26th” , said the president of PS Madeira. “We are ready for combat,” he assured.

Moments after Paulo Cafôfo’s statements, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD/Madeira) left the hearing with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa without the same clarity about calling elections. Assuming that he was capable of “proceeding with governance without any problems”, Miguel Albuquerque only said that he is available to go to elections.

“So that no one thinks that we are afraid of elections, (…) if it is necessary to go to elections, we will go to elections, there is no problem”, he guaranteed, speaking to journalists.

This confirms Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s intention that these elections take place before the European ones, scheduled for June 9th. Now, May 26th is the last possible date to meet the calendar before the start of the electoral campaign for the European Parliament elections.

After the regional legislatures of September 24, 2023, in which the PSD/CDS coalition failed due to an absolute majority being elected to the Legislative Assembly, the Social Democrats signed an agreement with the PAN’s only deputy.

However, when the court case in which Albuquerque was accused became known, the party withdrew political confidence in him.

Once the meetings with the nine parties – PSD, CDS-PP, PS, JPP, Chega, CDU, IL, PAN and BE – concluded, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met at 18:00 the State Council, the political consultation body of the head of state.

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