“On Sunday night, the people of Madeira chose the Social Democratic Party (PSD) to govern and selected the Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) to oversee, monitor, and bear the responsibility of being the largest opposition party,” stated Élvio Sousa.
The JPP leader was speaking to journalists at the Palácio de São Lourenço, the official residence of the Republic’s representative for Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, who today is scheduled to meet with the six parties that secured parliamentary seats in the early regional elections held on Sunday and will make a statement afterward.
Élvio Sousa emphasized that his party now holds the “responsibility of offering serious, constructive opposition (…) and strengthening the region’s civic project,” noting that the JPP increased its vote share across all municipalities in the archipelago.
On Sunday night, after the election results were announced, showing a victory for the PSD led by the head of the regional structure, Miguel Albuquerque, falling short by one deputy of the 24 needed for an absolute majority, Élvio Sousa considered the possibility of an alternative government, highlighting that the situation remained open.
“God willing, whether in an alternative government or as the second political force in Madeira, we will not allow the PSD to continue as it has. We are going to intensify our responsibility to monitor what the PSD does,” he said at the time.
Today, the secretary-general of the JPP, when asked if he had tried to join other parties to form an alternative government to Miguel Albuquerque, clarified that those statements were made to “educate” the public about the necessity of 24 deputies for an absolute majority.
“However, with the election of 23 deputies by the PSD, it would be against nature, I sincerely say, to attempt an alternative government,” he admitted.
Élvio Sousa assured that the JPP will maintain responsible opposition, “but will keep a close watch on the PSD,” emphasizing, “We will not let them roam free.”
“And we will further refine our monitoring,” he added, indicating that he would soon clarify how that oversight of government practices will be conducted.
The representative of the Republic for the autonomous region is today meeting with the six parties that elected deputies in Sunday’s election, specifically the PSD (23 deputies), the JPP (11), the PS (eight), Chega (three), the CDS-PP (one), and the Liberal Initiative (one).
On Tuesday, two days after the elections, the regional structures of the PSD and the CDS-PP established a post-electoral agreement ensuring a parliamentary majority in the region, which includes the integration of the archipelago’s Christian Democrat leader, José Manuel Rodrigues, into the executive.
These were the third legislative elections held in Madeira in about a year and a half, with 14 lists competing in a single circle: CDU (PCP/PEV), PSD, Livre, JPP, Nova Direita, PAN, Força Madeira (PTP/MPT/RIR), PS, IL, PPM, BE, Chega, ADN and CDS-PP.
The elections took place 10 months after the previous ones, following the approval of a motion of no confidence put forward 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.
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