The Political Committee views this defeat as the result of conflicts among members, stating that a lack of unity in the party leads to less positive outcomes,” expressed the secretary-general of the PSD regional structure.
José Prada made these comments after the Political Committee meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Funchal, focusing on analyzing the election results from Sunday.
The PSD secured victories in six of the 11 municipalities in the autonomous region, winning two with individual lists—Calheta and Câmara de Lobos—and four in coalition with the CDS-PP—Funchal, Porto Santo, Ribeira Brava, and Ponta do Sol, defeating the Socialist Party which had governed for eight years.
“We discussed both the municipalities we won and those we lost,” José Prada mentioned, particularly noting that regarding São Vicente, “the party president has explained more than once what might have happened.”
The secretary-general of PSD/Madeira referred to recent statements by Miguel Albuquerque, also the president of the Regional Government, who attributed the defeat of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition in São Vicente—an area they governed since 2021—to internal disputes.
Chega achieved an absolute majority in this northern Madeira municipality, one of the three won by the far-right party in the country, along with Albufeira and Entroncamento.
The selection of the lead candidate for the PSD/CDS-PP coalition in São Vicente was fraught with controversy. The initially indicated candidate, Fernando Góis, was later replaced by António Gonçalves, who had threatened to launch an independent movement.
José Prada, however, emphasized the party’s victory in six municipalities, highlighting the absolute majority in Funchal, the capital of the autonomous region.
“These positive results ensure the PSD’s leadership of the Association of Municipalities of the Region and reinforce the responsibility, demand, and work to be undertaken in the next four years at the local government level, ensuring full compliance with all the presented programs,” he stated.
