A First in Madeira's Political History
The government of Miguel Albuquerque fell on Wednesday after a historic no-confidence vote was approved by the Madeira regional parliament. This marks the first time in the island’s history that a regional executive has been brought down by such a motion. The motion of censure was passed with votes from the Chega party, the Socialist Party (PS), Juntos pelo Povo (JPP), the People-Animals-Nature party (PAN), and the Liberal Initiative. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the CDS-PP voted against the measure.
Early Elections on the Horizon
The collapse of Albuquerque’s government brings the possibility of early regional elections into focus. President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will decide on this course of action after consulting with the Council of State. Albuquerque, who remains the PSD’s leader in Madeira, called for elections "as soon as possible" and asserted that he is the "natural" candidate to lead his party into the next electoral contest.
Political Fallout and Accusations
During the parliamentary session, Miguel Albuquerque criticized the opposition parties for political irresponsibility and accused them of relying on Chega, a party he claimed is controlled from Lisbon. He argued that the interests of the people of Madeira and Porto Santo had been pushed aside by the excessive ambitions of certain politicians who have repeatedly lost at the ballot box.
The no-confidence motion, filed by Chega/Madeira’s parliamentary leader Miguel Castro, was prompted by ongoing judicial investigations involving Albuquerque and four of his cabinet members. Castro declared that the government "was no longer fit to govern."
Government's Short-Lived Tenure
The fall of Albuquerque’s government comes just months after early elections held on May 26. The new executive took office on June 6, making its term the shortest in Madeira's recent political history. According to the region’s Political-Administrative Statute, the outgoing government will now handle only essential administrative tasks until a new government is formed.
A Legacy of Controversy
Miguel Albuquerque has led the Regional Government of Madeira since 2015, when he succeeded Alberto João Jardim. He recently announced, that despite all the controversies, accusations and scandals surrounding himself and his government, he would yet again run for presidency. Albuquerque is also a defendant in several legal cases, from which he currently benefits due to political immunity.
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