The PSD Madeira, which had lost its absolute majority in 2019, nearly regained it on Sunday, three elections later. The election night results clearly indicated a decisive victory for Miguel Albuquerque’s party, falling just 300 votes short of electing the 24th deputy and securing a majority. Meanwhile, the PS became the third political force in the Autonomous Region, overtaken by the JPP.
The leader of PSD Madeira stated in his victory speech that he had not yet spoken with any party to fill the missing seat required for an absolute majority, but he left the door open to the CDS, referring to the party as a “privileged partner”.
On the CDS side, which has previously governed with the PSD—similar to the current situation on the mainland with the Democratic Alliance (AD) Government—there is complete readiness for talks in the “coming days”.
“We will sit at the table and what we will put on the table are our proposals and solutions to address the problems of the people, families, and businesses,” revealed the only deputy elected by the CDS, José Manuel Rodrigues.
The CDS-PP has not yet talked with the PSD, which won today’s early legislative elections in Madeira, but ensures that it will sit at the negotiation table, indicating that a decision on a possible government agreement will be made “in the coming days”.
Lusa | 23:20 – 23/03/2025
For now, Miguel Albuquerque sees the victory as a result that leaves no room for “any doubt” about what the Madeirans want, highlighting that the party achieved the highest vote count since 2015 in this Sunday’s regional legislative elections.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the confidence shown in my party and my leadership as our people have once again demonstrated, there is no ambiguity”, emphasized the leader of PSD/Madeira and the President of the Regional Government.
“It was the highest vote since I assumed leadership”, he noted.
The leader of PSD/Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, asserted today that “there is no ambiguity” regarding what Madeirans want, highlighting that the party achieved the largest vote count since 2015 in this Sunday’s regional legislative elections.
Lusa | 22:02 – 23/03/2025
(Almost) absolute majority is a guarantee of stability?
The prospect of an absolute majority for PSD Madeira was suggested by the released before the regional elections.
After the results were announced, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his belief that Madeiran voters “chose the solution of stability”.
“After so many elections, they said: let’s give this sum, these parties that were there, the chance to govern with an absolute majority”, stated Marcelo.
Check here LIVE the early elections in Madeira.
Notícias ao Minuto | 07:27 – 23/03/2025
Meanwhile, Paulo Cafôfo, after learning of the results, , which fell to the third political force in the region, but did not address the issue of stability, making it clear that he will not resign from his position as the leader of the socialists in Madeira.
“I take responsibility for this result and take responsibility for the defeat. This defeat is my responsibility. I did the best I could, I did the best I knew,” he clarified. “I gave myself to these elections with all the drive, all the passion, all the belief. The result wasn’t what I wanted, not what I expected, not what the Socialist Party expected.”
The socialist Paulo Cafôfo once again failed on Sunday to win the legislative elections in Madeira and end the “reign” of the PSD in the archipelago, which has lasted since 1976, almost always with absolute majorities.
Lusa | 06:25 – 24/03/2025
JPP dethroned PS and was the second big winner of the night. They promise to “monitor” PSD
The Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) is the only Portuguese party that emerged in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, beginning as a small movement created by two brothers, gradually gaining power over recent years. In these elections, they achieved their best result ever, surpassing PS and becoming the main opposition party with 11 deputies, out of the 47 that make up the parliament.
With the new power gained, JPP’s secretary-general, Élvio Sousa, promised “to monitor what the PSD will do”. “They won’t go unwatched, we will erect defensive and watch towers in all municipalities,” warned Élvio Sousa.
The secretary-general of JPP, Élvio Sousa, ensured that, whether as a leader of the opposition or in an alternative government, he will intensify the scrutiny of PSD, which once again won today’s regional elections without a majority.
Lusa | 23:17 – 23/03/2025
How did Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos react?
In response to the results in Madeira, the Prime Minister, for the regional assembly”.
“The people of Madeira once again proved their patience to resolve at the polls what politicians were not able to resolve in the legislative assembly”, stated Montenegro, referring to the development and “stability” of the region.
For the social-democrat, these results in Madeira translate into a “total defeat of a concerted and destructive opposition by the PS and Chega”, which extends beyond the archipelago’s borders.
“Indeed, after together—PS and Chega—having toppled the Azores government—then losing at the polls—having toppled the Madeira government—and losing today at the polls—having toppled the Government of the Republic—and the Portuguese will choose in May what they want for the future. The truth is it has been the citizens providing stability when these two parties, concerted and together, put their interests ahead of the people’s interests,” defended the social-democrat leader.
The president of PSD, Luís Montenegro, today highlighted in Porto the “extraordinary victory” of the social-democrats in the regional elections of Madeira, stating that the people, “once again proved they know how to resolve issues at the polls” caused in politics.
Lusa | 22:07 – 23/03/2025
A very different opinion comes from PS’s secretary-general, Pedro Nuno Santos. He acknowledged the “defeat of PS Madeira”, which “cannot be ignored,” but distanced himself from the regional election results, reminding that the socialists remain the “party that has won the most elections in the country.”
“I cannot make any inference. We truly take the autonomy of PS Madeira seriously”, added Pedro Nuno.
The socialist secretary-general, Pedro Nuno Santos, today accepted the defeat of PS/Madeira in the regional elections and refused to draw any conclusions for the anticipated legislative elections considering no connection can be made with national politics.
Lusa | 21:25 – 23/03/2025
It should be noted that the PSD has governed the region since the first regional elections in 1976. On Sunday, the party won the anticipated regional legislative elections in Madeira, missing the absolute majority by one deputy, according to official data.
According to information provided by the Secretary-General of MAI, the social-democrats obtained 43.43% of the votes (62,085 votes) and 23 seats in the Regional Legislative Assembly, which comprises a total of 47 deputies.
The JPP garnered 21.05% of the votes (30,094 votes) and 11 mandates in the regional parliament, while the PS received 15.64% (22,355) and eight seats in the Regional Legislative Assembly. They were followed by Chega, which elected three deputies, and the IL and CDS-PP, each obtaining one.
In terms of the current composition, the assembly decreased from seven to six political forces, given that the PAN was unable to reelect its sole deputy.
For the single electoral district of the archipelago, with 47 parliamentary seats, 14 lists competed: CDU (PCP/PEV), PSD, Livre, JPP, Nova Direita, PAN, Força Madeira (PTP/MPT/RIR), PS, IL, PPM, BE, Chega, ADN, and CDS-PP.
