Entire opposition united against government of Miguel Albuquerque
Today has signalled another monumental moment in Madeira’s political history. After decades of PSD leadership, the regional government of Miguel Albuquerque – for all his extraordinary manoeuvrings to maintain in power – has fallen. And, again, Mr Albuquerque has ‘refused’ the notion that anyone else could take his place: he means to fight on, in what will have to be new elections, as leader, in spite of all the calls for him to go.
This latest twist follows the approval of a motion of censure, presented by CHEGA, in which every single political party with a seat in the regional parliament (other than CDS which is bound to the PSD by a prior agreement), voted against the executive.
According to Lusa, the situation is ‘unprecedented’. What it means in the short term is that Miguel Albuquerque’s government will remain in office until a new team is in place.
CHEGA justified the presentation of this motion on the basis of the various judicial investigations involving Miguel Albuquerque and four regional secretaries, all of whom have been cited as official suspects.
In his final statement before the vote, CHEGA parliamentary group leader Miguel Castro described the initiative as a ‘cry of revolt’ against the cronyism, arrogance and corruption that he says are installed in the regional government structure.
“The government led by Miguel Albuquerque is an example of what we don’t want for Madeira,’ he said, emphasising that “corruption has become a permanent shadow hanging over this executive”.
Castro said that “the Madeira of wealth for some and suffocation for others cannot continue”. Madeirans don’t want a “government that governs only for itself”, but a “public service, transparent and ethical government”.
“Lies, blackmail and sabotage”
It would be one thing if all this was a storm kicked up by CHEGA. It isn’t: PS Socialists on are every bit as determined to bring Miguel Albuquerque down. Paulo Cafôfo, leader of the PS parliamentary group and of the party’s regional structure, accuses the PSD leader and his regional government of using “lies, blackmail and sabotage” an instrument for “political gain”.
For mainlanders used to the political everyday of the national parliament, this is the stuff of soap operas: far more ‘entertaining’.
In a nutshell, Miguel Albuquerque has predicted ‘doom’ for the region, operating as it will be doing for the next few months without a budget, while his opponents say they would rather no budget, than PSD remaining at the helm.
“Power is in the hands of the people”, said Cafôfo today. Parties have to “look at new solutions without taboos” and the PS “is prepared and will contribute with complete peace of mind to bring about change”. ‘
“We won’t get there with the same people,” he added.
Attack with orders from above, accuses PSD
Meantime, the PSD’s parliamentary leader Jaime Filipe Ramos has suggested that all this has been orchestrated by CHEGA leader, André Ventura, who is thinking of himself, not of the people of Madeira and Porto Santo…
“Get out of the room… and out of the Regional Government!”
For JPP, the second largest opposition party, Rafael Nunes said that the regional government is facing a “crisis of credibility” and “permanent instability created by Miguel Albuquerque and his PSD”.
Nunes emphasised that the Madeiran PSD executive is embroiled in suspicions of “serious crimes”, including corruption, malfeasance and influence peddling, and added that “no free and honest citizen entrusts their future in the hands of those who have lost their trust”.
“Leave the room, but also leave the regional government and let us work in this region!” declared Nunes, stressing it is “time to put an end to this scourge” and take measures to solve “the real problems” of the population.
“Everything slows down, everything stagnates, everything will regress”
Last Rumpelstiltskinesque words for now for the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, who believes “everything will be delayed, everything will stagnate, everything will go backwards”, affecting the lives of families, companies and institutions, now that his executive has received a very bloody nose.
“With paralysis and uncertainty, distrust in the market will set in, new investments will be cancelled, new projects will be postponed, new contracts will be cancelled and public tenders for the construction of new infrastructures will be immobilised,’ as will careers and salary upgrades, he predicts.
“In one fell swoop, the 3rd phase of the construction of the Central and University Hospital of Madeira is jeopardised”, among other projects, “whose work will stop in the next quarter, putting more than 500 people out of work”.
The second phase of the new Porto Santo health centre, which represents an investment of €12 million, support for companies and economic activity (€36 million), salary upgrades for the civil service, allowances, support for mental health homes and other social solidarity institutions “will not happen”.
The same applies for the update of the regional complement for the elderly to €1,440 per year and the reduction in the VAT rate for essential products. They “will not happen”. Increase in support for sports “will be left by the wayside”, and the 30% differential in withholding tax for self-employed professionals “will also not happen”…
Miguel Albuquerque also says that “regardless of the political ranting” against his government, the people of Madeira know “that nothing has changed since the elections in May this year, and that the only thing that has remained unresolved since then is that the PS and JPP want to govern Madeira”.
In his opinion, Madeirans also know ‘that this grotesque situation of Madeira being without a budget and without a government will harm the entire community (families and businesses).
“They don’t want confusion and turmoil; they want to continue living in peace, with direction,” he concluded.
But this is very much seeing the thoughts of Madeirans through Miguel Albuquerque’s own personal kaleidoscope. His performance during the island’s wildfires this summer damaged his ‘approval ratings’ immeasurably.
Whatever happens next, this is the Christmas ‘panto’ in Madeira right now: will the combined forces against Albuquerque ultimately succeed in winning the day, or will he simply return, triumphant, to continue ruling over a population that simply wants to ‘continue living in peace’? ND
Source material: Lusa/ ZAP
