
“What I wish for is that the internal debate happens and that what affected me doesn’t occur. I had no internal opponents on more than one occasion, but those opponents, who did not have the courage to confront me, ended up, outside the party, engaging in a systematic guerrilla against me, which ultimately affects the party,” he stated.
Speaking to journalists at the PS/Madeira headquarters in Funchal while the regional political committee meeting was still ongoing, Cafôfo argued that the fight should occur “at the right time” and stressed the importance of those who feel capable of leading the party to step forward.
“Let them not hide, let no one hide, as happened with me, only to undermine the party later,” he urged, reinforcing, “I hope there is a debate and that there are several candidates.”
The leader noted that on the upcoming Thursday, the 23rd, the regional committee will meet to establish the calendar for the internal elections and the PS/Madeira Congress, stating that in his view, the voting should take place before the end of the year.
Paulo Cafôfo emphasized that those interested in candidacy should proceed but also “provide tranquility and conditions to the new leadership,” so it can with “calmness, consistency, and responsibility bring credibility to the Socialist Party.”
The socialist mentioned that today’s meeting of the political committee is focused on analyzing the electoral results of Sunday’s local elections, which he found unsatisfactory.
“The Socialist Party is not satisfied with the electoral results,” he affirmed.
The Madeiran PS lost Ponta do Sol, one of the three municipalities it led, and lost representation in the council chambers of four municipalities. In Funchal, the main municipality in Madeira, the PS went from five councilors to one.
However, Paulo Cafôfo noted positive aspects in the local elections, highlighting that the socialists won the Municipal Councils of Machico and Porto Moniz with new leaders, as the current mayors reached their three-term limit.
On Sunday, Cafôfo confirmed his departure from the leadership of the party’s regional structure and indicated that he would call for internal elections.
On Tuesday, socialist Ricardo Franco, still president of the Machico Municipal Council as he completes his third term, announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Madeiran socialists at a press conference, stating that the party will have a future only when it unites and eradicates “the culture of hatred and internal divisionism.”
Questioned about these statements, he responded that he will not “interfere in this leadership contest” nor respond to direct accusations as he will not be a candidate.
“My role here is to ensure a responsible transition so that the new leadership can bring a new dynamic and the Socialist Party can recover from its current turmoil,” he concluded.