Funchal, Portugal, Nov. 12, 2024 (Lusa) - The conference of representatives of the parties in Madeira's Legislative Assembly has scheduled the discussion of the motion of censure presented by Chega to the minority PSD regional government for 17 December, after the discussion of the 2025 budget.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the conference of representatives, the speaker of parliament, José Manuel Rodrigues, said that a PSD request had been approved for the motion of censure to be discussed after the vote on the Regional Budget.
The Social Democrats' document had the votes favouring the proposer, PS, CDS-PP and PAN; the JPP abstained, and Chega voted against. IL's sole deputy was not present at the meeting.
The region's budget for 2025 will be discussed between 9 and 12 December, and the censure motion has, therefore, been scheduled for 17 December.
At today's meeting, the conference of representatives also decided to schedule for Thursday's plenary session the vote on lifting the parliamentary immunity, requested by the courts, of the regional secretaries of Finance, Rogério Gouveia, Health and Civil Protection, Pedro Ramos, Equipment and Infrastructure, Pedro Fino, and Economy, Tourism and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, as well as the vice-president of the Assembly, José Prada (PSD).
On Wednesday, the speaker of parliament and leader of Chega/Madeira, Miguel Castro, announced at a press conference that he had tabled a motion of censure against the regional government in the Madeiran parliament.
Miguel Castro justified the decision with the judicial investigations being carried out into the president of the government, Miguel Albuquerque, and four regional secretaries, all of whom have been made defendants.
‘We think that at the moment, the government led by Miguel Albuquerque and Miguel Albuquerque don't have the conditions to lead the Autonomous Region of Madeira,’ said the Chega regional leader, acknowledging that he would withdraw the motion if another solution were presented for the government.
Miguel Albuquerque was made a defendant at the end of January in an inquiry into suspicions of corruption, abuse of power, and malfeasance, among other things. At issue are allegations that the government favoured businessmen in exchange for a quid pro quo.
The Social Democrat, leader of the regional government since 2015, ended up resigning - after PAN withdrew its support that allowed the PSD/CDS-PP coalition to govern with an absolute majority - but won the early elections in May.
In a post-election agreement, PSD (with 19 elected representatives) and CDS-PP (two) failed to obtain the 24 seats needed for an absolute majority. At the same time, the abstention of three Chega MPs allowed the approval of Madeira's Budget for 2024.
For the first time in the history of democracy and autonomy, the Social Democrats no longer have an absolute majority in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region.
The regional parliament is made up of 19 PSD deputies, 11 PS deputies, nine JPP deputies, four Chega deputies, two CDS-PP deputies, one IL deputy and one PAN deputy.
Meanwhile, in September, the regional secretaries for Finance, Health and Civil Protection and Equipment and Infrastructure were made defendants as part of the ‘AB INITIO’ operation on suspicion of economic and financial crime.
Last week, another case involving the Secretary for the Economy, Tourism and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, was also made public.
Miguel Albuquerque has already stated publicly that he will not resign and that the PSD is ready for all scenarios, including new early regional legislative elections.
The PS and IL have announced that they will vote in favour of the motion of censure, while the JPP and PAN are still to decide on their party structures.
TFS/ADB // ADB.
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