The resigning president of the Government of Madeira (PSD/CDS-PP), the social democrat Miguel Albuquerque, reiterated today that he has already asked to be heard in the process that investigates suspicions of corruption in the archipelago, but so far has not been notified.
“I asked to be heard in the process. So far I haven’t been told to be heard. When I am, I will definitely go,” said the government official, stressing that he wants to be heard to “clarify things”.
Miguel Albuquerque, who was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to the Regional Land Transport Directorate in Funchal, also explained that he retains immunity as a result of his duties.
The government of Madeira, a PSD/CDS-PP coalition, with the parliamentary support of PAN, has been in administration since the beginning of February, after the president of the executive resigned from his post after being made a defendant in a case investigating suspected corruption in the archipelago and after PAN withdrew its political confidence in him.
Following the political crisis, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, dissolved Madeira’s parliament and called early elections for May 26.
This decision was announced by the head of state on March 27, after listening to the nine parties with parliamentary seats in the region – PSD, PS, JPP, Chega, CDS-PP, PCP, IL, BE and PAN – and chairing the Council of State.
As part of his visit to the Regional Land Transport Directorate, Miguel Albuquerque said that since the decree establishing the free social pass for students up to the age of 23 and users aged 65 and over came into force in January this year, 71,000 tickets have been issued, which corresponds to 92.9% of the total.
“This corresponds to a very strong social policy effort by the government,” he said, pointing out that the measure represents an annual investment of 6 million euros in compensatory aid to public transport companies.
The Madeiran government also invests 8.5 million euros a year in compensatory aid for other types of pass.
