… after Albuquerque’s removal
There is a turning point, a new page, in the political panorama of Madeira according to one of its leading newspapers, which reports that Miguel Albuquerque was forced to leave the scene, but postponed the presentation of his successor until Monday.
The headline theme – and the only Diario cover story – puts several names on the table for a possible succession, between regional secretaries and the early front-runner Tranquada Gomes.
Paulo Cafôfo (of the socialist party) insists on early elections and puts pressure on the President of the Republic, to turn the page quickly, who is keen to move forward with the approval of the Region’s Budget.
Albuquerque’s dismissal only formalized after budget approval?
However, some experts believe Albuquerque’s dismissal can only be formalized after the budget is approved
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, explained yesterday that he does not take a position on the political future of Madeira in order to give the regional parliament the possibility of approving the region’s budget between the 6th and 9th of February. “If you do not want to kill the [regional] budget, the Regional government has to be fully functional in 15 days from now, recalled the Head of State, speaking to CNN, in front of the Belém Palace, in Lisbon.
“The resignation of the president of the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, announced yesterday afternoon after the PSD political commission meeting, can only be formalized after the approval of the budget”.
This was the information provided by journalist Paulo Baldaia, on SIC Notícias, who assures that this would be the will of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. However, the existence of a motion of censure against the Regional Government, presented by the the Socialist party and already scheduled for February 7th, poses a problem. This date coincides with the days of discussion of the regional budget (6th to 9th February).
Questioning continues in Lisbon
The three leading characters in the corruption charges, Mayor Pedro Calado, and businessmen Avelino Farinha and Custódio Correia will start their interrogation today, but coercive measures (constraints pending investigations) should only be known the day after tomorrow.
In news advanced by CNN Portugal, Judiciary Police (PJ) inspectors found €20,000 in cash at Pedro Calado’s house and another €10,000 in banknotes at the residence of the mayor’s mother – who, authorities believe, acted as her son’s alleged “front man”.
Pedro Calado and Miguel AlbuquerquePedro Calado and Miguel AlbuquerqueThese 30 thousand euros are not included in the accounts of other suspicious deposits, since during the investigation Pedro Calado’s banking secrecy was lifted, that is, in the accounts reported by CNN Portugal , the Public Prosecutor’s Office ‘tracked’, at least, another 70 thousand euros that reached the hands of the mayor of Funchal and which are believed to have originated from the corruption pacts he signed with construction companies.
