The leader of the Madeira government, Miguel Albuquerque, advocates that the regional local elections take place on September 28, 2025, aiming to ensure higher voter turnout and avoid clashing with pilgrimage times to Fátima. At the same time, Albuquerque downplays the impact of a potential independent candidacy in Ribeira Brava, reinforcing internal cohesion within the PSD in the municipality.
Anticipate to ensure high participation
On the sidelines of the inauguration of the new Emissary Post in Funchal, the president of the PSD/Madeira explained that the choice of September 28 is justified by the need to schedule the voting before October 1, a date when thousands of Madeirans usually attend Fátima. For Albuquerque, a later scheduling could compromise democratic expression in the Autonomous Region.
Unity of the PSD amidst dissenting candidacies
Regarding the launch of an independent list for the Ribeira Brava City Council, led by Marco Martins, the current president of the parish council, the regional president of the PSD argues that the party remains strong in the municipality. Albuquerque ensures that the local PSD is prepared to continue the work of the current mayor, Ricardo Nascimento, without fears of vote fragmentation.
Division over the electoral calendar
In addition to the PSD and PS, which converge on the proposal of September 28, other parties such as Chega, PCP, and Livre have proposed October 12 as an alternative date for the local elections. This debate over the calendar reflects different party strategies regarding the voting behavior of Madeirans.
With these positions, Miguel Albuquerque reinforces the importance of an early call before October and underscores the internal unity of the PSD as a fundamental element to maintain the party’s influence in the local government bodies of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
