… but loses Funchal majority
The current leader of the PSD/Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, won the internal elections, defeating his opponent, Manuel António Correia, by 2,246 votes to 1,854, out of 4,388 registered voters, the party secretariat announced yesterday.
The election took place today in the wake of the political crisis caused by the resignation of Miguel Albuquerque as president of the regional government (what was the PSD/CDS-PP coalition) in January, after he was indicted in a judicial investigation into suspected corruption in the archipelago.
Just over 50% of party members vote for Albuquerque
The internal elections took place between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the PSD’s municipal and parish offices spread across the 11 municipalities of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with 4,388 militants able to vote, out of a total of more than 12,000.
The victory, achieved with a difference of 388 votes, was built outside the capital of Madeira, where Manuel António Correia triumphed in eight of the ten parishes.
This was the second time that Miguel Albuquerque beat Manuel António Correia in an internal dispute for the party presidency, the first having taken place in 2014 to choose the successor to historic leader Alberto João Jardim.
At the time, Albuquerque defeated Manuel António Correia, then regional secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources, in a second round, obtaining around 63% of the votes, and has remained the party’s leader until now, always running again without an opponent in the internal elections.
Miguel Albuquerque, born on May 4, 1961 (62 years old) and a native of Funchal, is a lawyer and has in his political curriculum the presidency of the Funchal City Council (1994-2013) and of the Regional Government of Madeira, since 2015.
He resigned on January 26, after the sole PAN member refused to comply with the parliamentary incidence agreement that guaranteed the PSD/CDS coalition an absolute majority in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, following the process that investigates suspicions of corruption.
Same old same old…………
Admin, I understand this was an internal vote, by members, for a leader. Any reason why only 4,388 militants were able to vote, out of a total of more than 12,000. Are the 7,612 without a vote members of the political party, if so is there any given reason why they were not allowed to vote.
Admin, having just read the other blog it appears only those who were paid up members of the party were allowed to vote. A little like the Labour Party over here when Mr. Corbyn was seeking to be leader and for a Party subscription of, I think, £3 you got the right to the candidate of your choice.
Enjoy your dictatorship folk. I’m not sticking around for this nonsense. Reply if you’re interested in any of my furniture/TV etc.
The man’s arrogance knows no limits. But pride comes before a fall.
Where would we be without the Morons on the island to keep this dictatorship? Thank you
Another vote of confidence in the Madeiran people. It’s their island, their choice. If you don’t like it, like them, you have a choice.
That’s why I said I’m leaving George. Do keep up mate.
Hobbes, I saw your comment and hope you find somewhere to exceed what you have found in Madeira. But unless you take up nationality, quite rightly you will never be able to vote for a change. Saying that, I wasn’t replying to you but to our resident bigot, last week, all Scots are alcoholics, this week the majority of Madeirans are morons.
Democracy at work. Do the critics here have a better idea? Would love to see positive credible suggestions.
The Madeirans are leaving the island in droves, they hardly care, I would imagine.
Better have him than Boris 😂🤣
That’s hardly a good endorsement Isabel 😂