Miguel Albuquerque’s political network is getting tighter and tighter and apparently there are only two options left for the current president of the Regional Government: either he leaves on his own, or he submits to a motion of censure against his government, with strong chances this time it will be approved, which would be an unprecedented case in the Region’s autonomous regime.
“Right at10:23 am and we don’t know what will happen”, a social democratic source told us this morning, confirming the political pressure and the efforts that have been intense in order to analyze the various scenarios that are on top of the table. One of these was Albuquerque’s own dismissal.
If this is the path, other destinies open up, one of which involves the presentation of a consensual figure who will be chosen by the social democrats and who will provide guarantees of political government stability – in 1978 this solution was presented with Alberto João Jardim replacing Ornelas Camacho – and in which the PAN could once again make a parliamentary impact agreement viable, as already stated in a statement, moreover, published by DIÁRIO last night.
The crux of the issue, today, will be to find such a consensual figure, however, we are told from behind the scenes by the social democrats that there are several (few) that are being worked on with the assumption that they will deserve the trust of the parties of the governance arc [CDS and PAN] and that is convincing enough for the Representative of the Republic [with the approval of the President of the Republic] to accept government continuity without resorting to elections.
If Miguel Albuquerque does not give in to political pressure, that is, if he faces a motion of censure, he will have to wait for what the votes of the deputies in the Legislative Assembly will dictate. According to the Rules of Procedure, it must be approved by 24 votes (absolute majority of deputies exercising their functions). In case of a tie, for example 23-23 and 1 abstention, the motion does not pass. There must be 24 votes in favor. PSD has 20 deputies; P.S. 11; Together for the People 5; Enough 4; CDS 3; IL 1; BE 1; PAN 1; PCP 1.
If approved, the Regional Government falls and until then “the members of the outgoing Regional Government remain in office until the new government takes office”, says article 62 of the Administrative Political Statute.
The Legislative Assembly will be dissolved by the President of the Republic, after consulting the State Council and the parties represented in them. The dissolution of the Legislative Assembly entails the dismissal of the Regional Government, which is limited to carrying out acts strictly necessary to ensure the management of public affairs, until the new government takes office after elections are held.
As for the new elections, and because an election took place less than six months ago, the current regulatory framework requires that the election never take place before March 14th.
Dismissal and candidacy
This is Miguel Albuquerque, who is in a private meeting at Quinta Vigia with his parliamentary leader. It is known that Albuquerque has the idea that he could resign and, soon after, become a candidate in the next election. A political strategy seen as too risky.
All because of the ongoing investigation process and in which the head of the Madeiran Executive was made a defendant, with his private residence and Quinta Vigia, headquarters of the Government Presidency, being the target of searches.
The leader of the Madeira executive refused to resign and admitted on Thursday to asking for the immunity he enjoys as a State councilor to be lifted.
According to the Judiciary Police, this operation involves suspected crimes of active and passive corruption, economic participation in business, malfeasance, receiving or offering an undue advantage, abuse of powers and influence peddling.