2024 Madeiran regional election

Snap regional elections were held in Madeira on 26 May 2024, to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The election replaced 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 defended their dominance in the islands, which they have held since 1976.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD), marred in an ongoing corruption investigation, emerged, once again, as the winner with 36 percent of the votes, albeit losing one seat thus gathering 19 seats, but polling comfortably ahead of the second most voted party, the PS."PSD vence na Madeira, mas sem maioria", Sapo, 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

The Socialist Party (PS) suffered another big defeat by gathering basically the same number of votes and seats as in September 2023, 21 percent and eleven seats, thus making no gains from the Social Democrats situation."Resultados das eleições na Madeira: PSD tem mais 20 mil votos do que o PS, mas falha maioria absoluta", TSF, 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024. The Together for the People (JPP) can be considered as the big winner of the elections, by gathering 17 percent of the votes, very close with the Socialists, and winning 9 seats, four more than in 2023. The party was also the most voted in their stronghold of Santa Cruz."Sobre acordos partidários, JPP diz que "a noite é a melhor conselheira", RTP, 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

Chega (CH) didn't make significant gains and won 9 percent of the votes and held on to the 4 seats won in September 2023. CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP), now running alone after their "quarrel" with the PSD, achieved 4 percent of the votes and won 2 seats, minus one they had in their 2023 coalition with the Social Democrats."CDS Madeira afirmou que notícias da morte do CDS foram exageradas ", RTP, 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

People-Animals-Nature (PAN) and the Liberal Initiative (IL) held on to their sole seats, while the Left Bloc (BE) lost their seat and left the regional assembly, as did the Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), which for the first time in 32 years failed to win a seat in the Madeira assembly."CDU e BE ficam fora do parlamento da Madeira", Notícias ao Minuto, 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.

The turnout in these elections was the same as in September 2023, with 53.4 percent of voters casting a ballot, compared with the 53.3 percent eight months before.

Background In the 2023 regional election, the We Are Madeira coalition (PSD/CDS–PP) was again the most voted coalition, 43 percent, but failed to win an absolute majority. After the elections, PSD and CDS–PP sought the parliamentary support from PAN, which guaranteed an absolute majority in the regional parliament.

2024 corruption investigation 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. The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, and two businessmen were arrested by the police. Miguel Albuquerque was named as formal suspect and was accused of several corruption, abuse of power and influence peddling crimes.

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 was innocent. 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. The Socialist Party (PS) and Chega announced intentions of submitting motions of no confidence against Albuquerque.

Fall of the government On 26 January, Miguel Albuquerque announced he would resign as President of the regional government of Madeira. The PSD was expected to select a new leader that would become President of the Regional Government of Madeira. Following Albuquerque's resignation, PAN announced that it would continue to provide parliamentary support to PSD. However, divisions within the PSD meant that a consensus on a succession solution was not reached. The Representative of the Republic in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, then started to hear parties represented in the regional Parliament. 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.

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.

On 27 March, the President of Portugal decided to dissolve the regional parliament and call early elections for 26 May.

Leadership changes and challenges

Social Democratic Party On 19 February 2024, Miguel Albuquerque announced that a PSD leadership election would be held on 21 March 2024, with himself being an almost certain candidate, which was later confirmed. The party also announced the end of their coalition with CDS–People's Party and would contest future elections alone. Manuel António Correia, former regional secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources from 2000 to 2015, announced his intention to run, being supported by former President Alberto João Jardim. On 21 March 2024, Albuquerque was reelected with 54 percent of the votes, against the 45 percent of António Correia. 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:

CDS – People's Party On 20 February 2024, CDS–PP party leader and Regional Secretary for Economic Affairs, Rui Barreto, announced his resignation from the party leadership, and a leadership ballot was called for April. José Manuel Rodrigues, President of the Regional Assembly and former leader of CDS–PP Madeira (1997–2018), announced his intention to run for the leadership. On 14 April 2024, José Manuel Rodrigues was easily elected as party leader with 76 percent of the delegates votes:

Electoral system 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.Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Eleição para a Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma da Madeira 2007

Parties Composition The table below lists parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira before the election. Name Ideology Leader 2023 result % Seats PPD/PSD Social Democratic Party Liberal conservatism Miguel Albuquerque43.1% CDS–PPCDS – People's PartyConservatism José Manuel Rodrigues PS Socialist Party Social democracy Paulo Cafôfo 21.3% JPP Together for the People Social liberalism Élvio Sousa 11.0% CHEnough!National conservatismMiguel Castro8.9% PCP Portuguese Communist Party Communism Edgar Silva 2.7% ILLiberal InitiativeClassical liberalismNuno Morna2.6% PANPeople Animals NatureAnimal welfareMónica Freitas2.2% BELeft BlocDemocratic socialismRoberto Almada2.2%

Parties running in the election 14 parties and/or coalitions were on the ballot for the 2024 Madeira regional election. The parties and/or coalitions that contested the election and their lead candidates were: (parties/coalitions are ordered by how they appeared on the ballot paper)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.

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

Campaign Issues The campaign was dominated by issues like housing, poverty and lack of freedoms in Madeira, with some parties accusing the PSD of coercing public employees. The stability of the next regional government was also a big issue in the campaign, with Miguel Albuquerque being rejected by all parties, due to his ongoing corruption accusations, and with the Socialists hoping to forge a "contraption" with left wing parties, in order to end the Social Democrats 48 years in power. Party slogans

2024 Madeiran regional election

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