2024 Madeiran regional election
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Snap Regional elections will be held in Madeira on 26 May 2024, to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The election will replace all 47 members of the Madeira Assembly, and the new members will then elect the President of the Autonomous Region.
Before the dissolution of the regional parliament, incumbent president Miguel Albuquerque, since 2015, from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the CDS – People's Party, with the parliamentary support of People Animals Nature. The Social Democrats will defend their dominance in the islands since 1976.
Background[edit]
In the 2023 regional election, the We Are Madeira coalition was again the most voted coalition, 43%, but failed to win an absolute majority.[1] After the elections, PSD and CDS–PP sought the parliamentary support from PAN, which guaranteed an absolute majority in the regional parliament.[2]
2024 corruption investigation[edit]
On 24 January 2024, the Judiciary Police and the Public Prosecutor's office conducted a series of searches at the official office of the President of the Region, at Funchal City Hall, at Miguel Albuquerque's private residence and in many private companies, regarding corruption and abuse of power accusations surrounding real estate businesses in the region.[3] The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, and two businessmen were arrested by the police.[4] Miguel Albuquerque was named as formal suspect and is accused of several corruption, abuse of power and influence peddling crimes.[5]
Miguel Albuquerque announced he would not resign as President and would defend himself against the accusations, although suggesting that he would ask his double immunity, granted as a member of the regional government and the Council of State, to be removed, pressing that he is innocent.[6] Parties reacted by demanding Albuquerque's resignation, with People Animals Nature (PAN) threatening to tear apart the agreement between them and the PSD, if Albuquerque didn't resign.[7] The Socialist Party (PS) and Chega announced intentions of submitting motions of no confidence against Albuquerque.[8]
Resignation[edit]
On 26 January, Miguel Albuquerque announced he would resign as President of the regional government of Madeira.[9] The PSD was expected to select a new leader that would become President of the Regional Government of Madeira.[10] Following Albuquerque's resignation, PAN announced that it would continue to provide parliamentary support to PSD.[11] However, divisions within the PSD meant that a consensus on a succession solution was not reached.[12] The Representative of the Republic in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, then started to hear parties represented in the regional Parliament.[13] Opposition parties, PS, JPP, CH, PCP, IL and BE defended snap elections, while PSD, CDS–PP and PAN proposed the nomination of a new government.[14]
On 17 February, the Representative of the Republic in Madeira announced that he would keep the government in office, in a caretaker capacity, until the President of Portugal decided whether there would be early elections or a new government under the current parliament. The parliament of Madeira could only be dissolved from 24 March 2024 onwards, six months after the last elections.[15]
On 27 March, the President of Portugal decided to dissolve the regional parliament and call early elections for 26 May.[16]
Leadership changes and challenges[edit]
Socialist Party[edit]
On 2 December 2023, a leadership election was held to replace Sérgio Gonçalves as the leader of PS Madeira. Paulo Cafôfo, by then Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities and former Mayor of Funchal was the only candidate. He was elected with 98.6% of the votes.[17]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulo Cafôfo | 1,450 | 98.6 | |
| Blank/Invalid ballots | 20 | – | |
| Turnout | 1,470 | ||
| Source: DNotícias | |||
Social Democratic Party[edit]
On 19 February 2024, Miguel Albuquerque announced that a PSD leadership election will held on 21 March 2024, with himself being an almost certain candidate, which was later confirmed.[18] The party also announced the end of their coalition with CDS–People's Party and will contest future elections alone.[19] Manuel António Correia, former regional secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources from 2000 to 2015, also announced his intentions to run, being supported by former President Alberto João Jardim.[20] On 21 March 2024, Albuquerque was reelected with 54 percent of the votes, against the 45 percent of António Correia.[21] 4,388 party members were able to vote, just over a third of a total universe of more than 12,000 members, and of those able to vote, 94 percent cast a ballot. The results were the following:
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miguel Albuquerque | 2,243 | 54.3 | |
| Manuel António Correia | 1,856 | 44.9 | |
| Blank/Invalid ballots | 33 | 0.8 | |
| Turnout | 4,132 | 94.17 | |
| Source: Expresso | |||
CDS – People's Party[edit]
On 20 February 2024, CDS–PP party leader and Regional Secretary for Economic Affairs, Rui Barreto, announced his resignation from the party leadership,[22] and a leadership ballot was called for April. José Manuel Rodrigues, current President of the Regional Assembly and former leader of CDS–PP Madeira (1997–2018), announced his intention to run for the leadership.[23] On 14 April 2024, José Manuel Rodrigues was easily elected as party leader with 76% of the delegates votes:[24]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| José Manuel Rodrigues | 129 | 75.9 | |
| Blank/Invalid ballots | 41 | 24.1 | |
| Turnout | 170 | ||
| Source: DNotícias | |||
Electoral system[edit]
The current 47 members of the Madeiran regional parliament are elected in a single constituency by proportional representation under the D'Hondt method, coinciding with the territory of the Region.[25]
Parties[edit]
Current composition[edit]
The table below lists parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira before the election.
| Name | Ideology | Leader | 2023 result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | Seats | |||||
| PSD | Social Democratic Party Partido Social Democrata |
Liberal conservatism | Miguel Albuquerque | 43.1% [a] |
20 / 47
| |
| CDS–PP | CDS – People's Party Centro Democrático Social – Partido Popular |
Conservatism | José Manuel Rodrigues | 3 / 47
| ||
| PS | Socialist Party Partido Socialista |
Social democracy | Paulo Cafôfo[26] | 21.3% | 11 / 47
| |
| JPP | Together for the People Juntos pelo Povo |
Centrism | Élvio Sousa | 11.0% | 5 / 47
| |
| CH | Enough! Chega! |
National conservatism | Miguel Castro | 8.9% | 4 / 47
| |
| PCP | Portuguese Communist Party Partido Comunista Português |
Communism | Edgar Silva | 2.7% [b] |
1 / 47
| |
| IL | Liberal Initiative Iniciativa Liberal |
Classical liberalism | Nuno Morna | 2.6% | 1 / 47
| |
| PAN | People Animals Nature Pessoas Animais Natureza |
Animal welfare | Mónica Freitas | 2.2% | 1 / 47
| |
| BE | Left Bloc Bloco de Esquerda |
Democratic socialism | Roberto Almada | 2.2% | 1 / 47
| |
Parties running in the election[edit]
14 parties and/or coalitions are on the ballot for the 2024 Madeira regional election. The parties and/or coalitions that will contest the election and their lead candidates are: (parties/coalitions are ordered by the way they will appear on the ballot)[27][28]
- National Democratic Alternative (ADN), Miguel Pita
- Left Bloc (BE), Roberto Almada
- Socialist Party (PS), Paulo Cafôfo
- LIVRE (L), Marta Sofia
- Liberal Initiative (IL), Nuno Morna
- React, Include, Recycle (RIR), Liana Reis
- Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), Edgar Silva
- Enough (CH), Miguel Castro
- CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP), José Manuel Rodrigues
- Earth Party (MPT), Valter Rodrigues
- Social Democratic Party (PSD), Miguel Albuquerque
- People-Animals-Nature (PAN), Mónica Freitas
- Portuguese Labour Party (PTP), Raquel Coelho
- Together for the People (JPP), Élvio Sousa
Opinion polls[edit]
Polling[edit]
| Polling firm/Link | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O | Lead | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 legislative election | 10 Mar 2024 | — | 58.9 | 35.4 (19) |
19.8 (10) |
9.6 (5) |
17.6 (9) |
1.6 (0) |
3.9 (2) |
2.1 (1) |
2.9 (1) |
4.8 (0) |
15.6 | |||
| Intercampus[c] | 26 Feb–3 Mar 2024 | 401 | ? | 39.7 21 |
1.1 0 |
28.3 14 |
9.5 5 |
7.4 3 |
3.3 1 |
6.0 3 |
1.3 0 |
— | 3.4 0 |
11.4 | ||
| 2023 regional election | 24 Sep 2023 | — | 53.3 | 43.1 23 |
21.3 11 |
11.0 5 |
8.9 4 |
2.7 1 |
2.6 1 |
2.2 1 |
2.2 1 |
4.9 0 |
21.8 | |||
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c PSD and CDS–PP contested the 2023 election jointly as the We Are Madeira Coalition, and won a combined 43.1% of the vote and elected 23 MPs to parliament.
- ^ The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV) contested the 2023 election jointly as the Unitary Democratic Coalition, and won a combined 2.7% of the vote and elected 1 MP to parliament.
- ^ Results presented here exclude undecideds (25.2%). With their inclusion results are: PSD: 29.7%; PS: 21.2%; JPP: 7.1%; CHEGA 5.5%; IL: 4.5%; CDU: 2.5%; PAN: 1.0%; CDS-PP: 0.8%; Others/Invalid: 2.5%
References[edit]
- ^ "Eleições na Madeira: Coligação PSD/CDS-PP vence mas falha maioria absoluta". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Miguel Albuquerque faz acordo parlamentar com PAN para continuar a governar a Madeira". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Buscas na Madeira. Megaoperação envolveu quase 300 pessoas". RTP (in Portuguese). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "PJ deteve presidente da Câmara do Funchal e dois construtores. Albuquerque constituído arguido". Público (in Portuguese). 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "Presidente do Governo Regional da Madeira foi constituído arguido". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ ""Não violei nenhuma regra". Albuquerque volta a garantir que é inocente e que não se vai demitir". RTP (in Portuguese). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "PAN ameaça deixar cair Governo da Madeira se Albuquerque não sair". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "PS Madeira vai apresentar moção de censura ao Governo Regional". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2024-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
- ^ "Albuquerque irá renunciar à presidência do Governo Regional". Diário de Notícias da Madeira (in Portuguese). 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "Marcelo aceitará novo governo na Madeira sem Albuquerque". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "PAN/Madeira mantém acordo com PSD e considera "extremamente perigoso" eleições antecipadas" [PAN/Madeira maintains agreement with PSD and considers early elections “extremely dangerous”]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "PSD/Madeira não encontra um nome para governar". Sol (in Portuguese). 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "Madeira: representante da República ouve partidos entre quarta e sexta-feira". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "PSD/Madeira está preparado para apresentar novo Governo e rejeita eleições antecipadas". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ Ribeiro, Abílio (17 February 2024). "Governo de Albuquerque fica em funções até Marcelo decidir se há eleições" [Government of Albuquerque remains in office until Marcelo decides whether there will be elections]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Machado, Delfim (27 March 2024). "Marcelo confirma dissolução do Parlamento da Madeira e eleições a 26 de maio" [Marcelo confirms dissolution of the Parliament of Madeira and elections on 26 May]. Jornal de Notícias. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Gonçalves, Sandra S. "Cafôfo eleito presidente do PS-Madeira". DNOTICIAS.PT (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "Albuquerque anuncia que será candidato às diretas do PSD-M". Jornal da Madeira (in Portuguese). 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "PSD deixa cair CDS". Jornal da Madeira (in Portuguese). 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "Manuel António Correia vai ser candidato à liderança do PSD Madeira". TVI Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ "Albuquerque foi reeleito e confia na vitória do PSD se houver eleições antecipadas na Madeira". Expresso (in Portuguese). 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "Demissão de Rui Barreto abre caminho a uma nova era (áudio)". RTP Madeira (in Portuguese). 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "José Manuel Rodrigues deverá avançar para a liderança do CDS-Madeira | Funchal Notícias | Notícias da Madeira - Informação de todos para todos! | Notícias da Madeira e do Porto Santo". Funchal Notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "José Manuel Rodrigues é oficialmente novo líder do CDS". Diário de Notícias da Madeira (in Portuguese). 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Eleição para a Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma da Madeira 2007
- ^ Gonçalves, Sandra S. "Cafôfo eleito presidente do PS-Madeira". DNOTICIAS.PT (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Já é conhecida a ordem dos partidos para as eleições de 26 de Maio, Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Tribunal da Comarca da Madeira recebeu 14 candidaturas, RTP, 15 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
