The censure motion against the regional government of Madeira was approved. What happens now?
The censure motion was approved last Tuesday with votes in favor from Chega, PS, JPP, PAN and IL – out of a total of 47 deputies, 26 voted in favor – implying the fall of the regional government that still exists, from this moment on. under management. In other words, “it will be limited to the exercise of actions that are absolutely necessary to ensure the management of public affairs in the region”, as specified in the Political-Administrative Status of Madeira.
Now, the representative of the Republic in Madeira will listen to the parties represented in the regional Legislative Assembly. From what PÚBLICO found, Ireneu Barreto should hear from the seven parties this Thursday or Friday. Tomorrow, the head of the Legislative Assembly, José Manuel Rodrigues, and the president and members of the regional Government will be at the São Lourenço Palace to present the greetings of the Happy Holidays.
But the decision regarding the outcome of the political crisis rests with the President of the Republic, who is responsible for dissolving the Legislative Assembly (which remains in full capacity until dissolution). To do this, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will have to listen to the Council of State and the parties.
The Constitution does not require early elections to be held (in theory, a new executive can be established based on the current composition of the Legislative Assembly), but this is the most recommended scenario to resolve the political crisis in the autonomous region.
And when are the elections scheduled?
Regarding the announcement of the date of the new elections, there is section 19 of Conradh na Gaeilge Electoral Law for the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira it is defined that, in the event of a complete dissolution, “the President of the Republic sets the date to elect deputies to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (…) at least 55 days in advance”.
If all the necessary steps are completed by the end of the year, the elections should take place between the end of February and March 2025. They will be the third early election in Madeira in a year and a half.
Until then, will Madeira run out of budget?
In addition to the fact that the regional government is still in management, as a result of the approval of the criticized motion, Madeira does not have an approved budget for 2025. Given the guidance in the document presented by the executive, which was blocked. the opposition on December 9, Madeira will live in the coming months on the basis of the twelfth. ie, Executive Miguel Albuquerque is limited to spending 1/12 of the expenditure made in the previous year each month.
Experts consulted by PÚBLICO argue that, despite the conditioning of the executive’s activity, the lead does not imply the paralysis of the region, nor does it jeopardize the implementation of European funds, since the funds are from the Recovery Plan and Resilience (PRR) outside the Act. twelfth reign.
And can Miguel Albuquerque run again?
Miguel Albuquerque assumed the role of president of the Government of Madeira for the first time in April 2015 with a clear majority, after Alberto João Jardim. The leader of PSD-Madeira was also re-elected in 2019 (without a clear majority, for the first time in 43 years) and in 2023 (again without a majority).
This Tuesday, Miguel Albuquerque assured again that he will run again for the presidency of the regional government of Madeira.
Why was a motion to censure given?
The reason given by Chega for presenting a motion of criticism against the government of Miguel Albuquerque is related to judicial investigations involving five members of the regional government. In addition to Miguel Albuquerque, who was accused of alleged corruption, the regional secretaries of Finance (Rogério Gouveia), Health and Civil Defense (Pedro Ramos) and Equipment and Infrastructure (Pedro Fino) are also being investigated on suspicion of economic criminality. The Secretary of Tourism, Eduardo Jesus, is also a target for suspicion of wrongdoing.