The representative of the Republic for Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, today announced his decision to resolve the political crisis in the region, following the resignation of the president of the regional government (PSD/CDS-PP), the social democrat Miguel Albuquerque.
The announcement of the judge-councilor’s decision is scheduled for 15:00 at the Palácio de São Lourenço in Funchal, one day after Ireneu Barreto met with the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in Lisbon.
Following the exoneration of the leader of the regional executive, Miguel Albuquerque (PSD), who was made a defendant in a case investigating suspicions of corruption in Madeira, last week the representative of the Republic heard the parties represented in the Regional Legislative Assembly.
At the end of the hearings, Ireneu Barreto announced that he would consult the President of the Republic on the political crisis and would announce his decision later.
“In this very complex situation, it is now up to me to consider all the options that the Constitution provides for and decide, in good conscience, the one that best defends the best interests of Madeira and Porto Santo, regional autonomy and the democratic regime,” Ireneu Barreto said at the time.
According to the representative of the Republic, given that the President of the Republic has the power to dissolve the Regional Legislative Assembly, it would be “indispensable” to consult Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Asked about the possible appointment of a new regional government, Ireneu Barreto replied: “It’s one of the options I have to consider, whether it’s worth appointing a government for a month, but, as I say, all scenarios are open.”
Under the terms of Article 231 of the Constitution, “the Regional Government is politically accountable to the Legislative Assembly of the autonomous region and its president is appointed by the representative of the Republic, taking into account the election results”.
Article 133 states that the President of the Republic is responsible for “dissolving the Legislative Assemblies of the autonomous regions, after consulting the Council of State and the parties represented in them”.
However, under the terms of Article 172, no Assembly can be dissolved “within six months of its election”, which in this case extends until March 24.
The PSD and CDS-PP, which govern the region in coalition with the parliamentary support of PAN, have insisted on the appointment of a new executive leader, considering that the parliamentary majority has the legitimacy to support a new regional government, thus seeking to avoid early elections, as advocated by the other parties with seats in the chamber.
On January 24, the Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out around 130 house and non-house searches, mainly in Madeira, but also in the Azores and various parts of the mainland, as part of a case investigating suspicions of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering undue advantage, abuse of power and influence peddling.
Following this operation, the PJ arrested the then mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado (PSD), who has also resigned, the leader of the AFA construction group, Avelino Farinha, and the main shareholder of the Socicorreia construction group, Custódio Correia.
The three defendants were released on Wednesday with a term of identity and residence, three weeks after their arrests, by order of the investigating judge, who considered that no evidence of “any crime” had been found.