Ireneu Barreto, the representative of the Republic in Madeira, has announced that social-democrat Miguel Albuquerque, who triumphed in Sunday’s regional elections, will be appointed as the head of the archipelago’s government.
“I have decided to request Dr. Miguel Albuquerque to come to the palace at 4:30 PM to appoint him as President of the Regional Government,” stated Ireneu Barreto during a press briefing at the Palácio de São Lourenço in Funchal.
The PSD secured victory in Sunday’s elections, winning 23 seats but missing an absolute majority by one. This week, the party signed a parliamentary and governmental agreement with CDS-PP, which secured one seat in the Legislative Assembly.
Miguel Albuquerque, who has led the executive since 2015, was made a defendant in an investigation into corruption suspicions in early 2024. He resigned and was re-elected in May during early elections, but his minority government fell following the approval of a motion of no confidence in December.
After consulting the six parties that elected deputies on Sunday—PSD, JPP, PS, Chega, CDS-PP, and IL— the representative of the Republic stated that “all were unanimous in their opinion that the PSD should form the government.”
“I hope this government lasts the duration of a full term, which is slightly over four years, until September 2029,” expressed Ireneu Barreto, indicating that this is his wish.
“I tell you quite frankly, I hope that conditions exist for this to happen and that it does happen because the region truly needs stability,” he emphasized.
In addressing potential challenges faced by the new government, particularly those stemming from ongoing legal proceedings, the representative of the Republic remarked that “the future is in God’s hands,” and it is premature to speculate on scenarios beyond his control.
“Justice shall deal with matters of justice, and politics shall deal with matters of politics,” he noted, adding, “There is a lot of justice and many situations involving justice. What I ask is that we do not rush to conclusions. Let us wait calmly, with the serenity that the people of Madeira demand, so that the government can govern.”
Ireneu Barreto emphasized the unpredictability of any “incidents along the way.”
“Therefore, let’s accept and hope that this government lasts for the full legislative term,” he remarked.
In today’s meetings with the representative of the Republic, both PSD and CDS-PP declared that conditions are in place to form a stable government, citing the parliamentary and governmental agreement signed by the parties on Tuesday.
This agreement secures a parliamentary majority in the region and includes the integration of the Christian Democrat leader of the archipelago, José Manuel Rodrigues, into the executive branch.
During the early regional legislative elections last Sunday, PSD secured 23 deputies, JPP obtained 11, PS secured eight, Chega won three, while CDS-PP and Iniciativa Liberal each claimed one seat.
These were the third regional elections held in Madeira in approximately a year and a half. Fourteen lists competed in a single constituency: CDU (PCP/PEV), PSD, Livre, JPP, Nova Direita, PAN, Força Madeira (PTP/MPT/RIR), PS, IL, PPM, BE, Chega, ADN, and CDS-PP.
The election took place 10 months after the previous one, following a motion of no confidence presented by Chega, justified by judicial investigations involving members of the Regional Government, including the president, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), and the subsequent dissolution of the Legislative Assembly by the President of the Republic.
The previous regional elections occurred on May 26, 2024, with PSD securing 19 deputies, PS winning 11, JPP obtaining nine, Chega four (although one deputy became independent), and CDS-PP two. Both PAN and IL secured one seat each.
At the time, PSD formed a parliamentary agreement with CDS-PP, which was insufficient for an absolute majority. The social democrats also previously engaged in a parliamentary agreement with PAN following the September 2023 regional elections.
