The President of the Regional Government has said that “the motion of censure” issued by Chega to the executive “makes no sense at all”, but added that “if you want to play parties, play ahead”, because first you need to approve the regional budget. “Let the budget pass, because it touches everyone’s pockets,” he asked.
On the sidelines of the opening session of the new edition of the national defence course, which takes place in Funchal, Miguel Albuquerque was concerned about the effects of a motion of censure at the moment, when increases for the civil service, career progressions, IRS write-off, the tender for the third phase of the new hospital and PRR works are being negotiated.
For Miquel Albuquerque, these measures can be compromised without a budget. Miguel Albuquerque blames the president of Chega, André Ventura, for the new political crisis that is opening up. “I think this was imposed by Mr. [André] Ventura, who after setting fire to the forest comes to put out the fire with oil,” he accused.
Wading in from the sidelines, the Ex-President of Madeira, Alberto João Jardim had this to say about the furore:
“Miguel Albuquerque has been destroying the legacy he ( Alberto João Jardim) left and “disuniting” the PSD/Madeira.” Alberto João Jardim also confessed to fearing new elections, following the motion of censure presented by Chega.
Not even in Italy! Just to think that we are going to spend a few more years playing with governments falling successively because the current leadership of PSD Madeira is incompetent and the opposition parties are also incompetent (…). The PS will approve a motion of censure whose text is against the PS itself. All this is a mess. Then there are some parties that said the PSD was worse, but now they are on the fence and say they don’t know if they will vote in favour of the motion or not”
For Jardim, Albuquerque does not know how to deal with thecurrent crisis motivated by a succession of court cases.
“It would be healthy for both the region and the PSD for him to leave with dignity and be treated with dignity,” said Jardim, recalling that, in 2015, he resigned from the Presidency of the Government.
“A leader who does not unite, does not serve. When I saw in 2015 that the PSD/Madeira was already fractured and that there was no longer any possibility of uniting it, I declared my intention to leave,” he declared.
Regarding Albuquerque’s potential successor, the former regional leader considers that “it is necessary to promote someone who is above the factions and who puts an end to these dangerous groups, Ultimately, we need someone who can bring out the best in individuals and reunite and rebuilt the PSD/Madeira.”
The ex-president believes that he has someone in mind, but refuses to reveal their name(s).
However, the Portuguese Labour Party considers that the postponement of the discussion of the Motion of Censure, which will now take place after the budget has been approved, on the Regional Government is “an illegal coup.” They go on to explain that the Conference of Party Representatives does not have the power to decide on the date, as it is already defined by the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.
According to Raquel Coelho, “the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira leave no room for doubt that the debate would have to start on the eighth parliamentary day following the presentation of the motion of censure, it cannot exceed one day. The Leaders’ Conference only has the power to organize the Motion of Censure and not to set the date.”
Therefore, the party claims that we are facing an illegality “subscribed by the PSD, PS, CDS and PAN to which Chega must appeal to the plenary.” explained Raquel Coelho.
The PTP, through a statement, attaches the article of ALRAM’s Rules of Procedure that gives an account of the dates for debate of the Motion of Censure
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
