Albuquerque Calls Election Results “Monumental Defeat”
Miguel Albuquerque, president of the Madeiran government and leader of PSD-Madeira, described the presidential election results as a “monumental defeat” for the right and center-right, highlighting that the party’s candidate, Marques Mendes, was particularly penalized in Madeira.
PSD-Madeira Will Not Endorse Any Candidate
He announced that PSD-Madeira will not give any recommendation or indication of support in the second round, leaving voters free to decide for themselves. However, he indirectly pointed out that a socialist president would be a really bad thing, leaving his intentions once more open to interpretation.
I think that at this moment, the initial interpretation is that the Portuguese right and center-right, with two-thirds of the parliament, suffered a monumental defeat and is on the verge of electing a socialist to the Presidency of the Republic
Miguel Albuquerque, Diário de Notícias Madeira
Factors Behind Marques Mendes’ Poor Performance
Albuquerque explained that Mendes’ poor performance was due to a combination of factors:
the inherent volatility of presidential elections
confusion surrounding national subsidy policies
a weak and poorly organized campaign in Madeira, including a lack of campaign materials.
He emphasized that in personalized presidential elections, political parties have limited influence over voters’ choices, and fragmentation on the right made the outcome even worse.
Importance of President Who Respects Autonomy
Despite supporting Mendes personally, Albuquerque stressed that his main concern is having a President who respects the autonomy of Madeira and the Azores, listens to national authorities, and upholds the rights of the regions within the constitutional framework. He warned that voters should pay attention to candidates’ positions on issues such as the Regional Finance Law and mobility subsidies, as these affect the islands’ development and influence within Portugal’s political system.
First Round Results and Second Round Matchup
In the first round, the Socialist-supported candidate Antonio José Seguro led with 31%, followed by André Ventura of Chega with 23%, Cotrim Figueiredo of the Liberal Initiative with 16%, Gouveia e Melo with 12%, and Marques Mendes with 11%. The second round, scheduled for February 8, will see António José Seguro face André Ventura.
Source: Diário de Notícias Madeira
Comments