PAN/Madeira spokesman Joaquim Sousa defended this Wednesday that the parliamentary influence agreement signed with the PSD/CDS-PP coalition is illegal, arguing that it must first be approved by the party’s national political committee. However, the PAN delegate to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, Mónica Freitas, assured that the agreement has “full legitimacy”.
Joaquim Sousa went to the Palácio de São Lourenço in Funchal, while the representative of the Republic for Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, received the PAN as part of Sunday’s consultation of the parties that won mandates in the regional legislature.
The PAN spokesperson even entered the courtyard of the building, but on the recommendation of Ireneu Barreto’s office, the statements to journalists took place outside the São Lourenço Palace.
Joaquim Sousa stated that, as head of the PAN Regional Political Commission, he should be received by the representative of the Republic, naming the elected deputy, Mónica Freitas, and the other members of the party who participated in the meeting, accused of usurpation of functions.
“The agreement is illegal for a very simple reason: Dr. Mónica Freitas, if she signed the agreement on PAN stationery, has no legitimacy to do so, because she is only an elected deputy, has not yet taken office and does not represent the PAN in court. The PAN has a regional structure that is represented in court by its regional spokesperson,” he argued.
The leader also stressed that the document “is illegal” because it would first have to be approved by the PAN National Political Committee, adding that this body will meet today “in case of emergency, precisely to reach an agreement to ratify the agreements agreed by the National Commissioners and the Regional Political Committee.” are not aware of it.”
Regarding the statements of Mónica Freitas on Tuesday, who declared that she would become the spokesperson of PAN/Madeira and that Joaquim Sousa would be removed, without explaining details, Joaquim Sousa assured that “he was not informed of anything” .
“I have no knowledge of any process. I am the elected spokesperson of PAN/Madeira and in that sense the meeting now taking place is a usurpation meeting,” he stressed.
The PAN spokesperson also emphasized that he would not have signed this parliamentary advocacy agreement, arguing that voters feel that “they have been misled” and that there has been a “betrayal”.
On November 12, 2022, Sousa took office as leader of the PAN regional political committee, following single-list elections.
In July this year he was nominated as party leader for the regional elections in Madeira.
But on the eve of the submission of the candidacy to the Judicial Court of the District of Madeira, the PAN announced her replacement by Mónica Freitas, justifying in a statement the decision as “an incompatibility”.
Joaquim Sousa filed a lawsuit to annul the People-Animals-Nature party’s candidacy for the elections, but this was declared unfounded.
During the press conference held on Tuesday to announce the agreement on parliamentary influence, the elected deputy said that Joaquim Sousa will no longer be the spokesperson of the regional structure, but will replace him, as he is number two in the regional structure of the party. , and assured that the matter is “already being dealt with”, without offering any explanation.
The spokesperson of the party’s regional political committee, Joaquim Sousa, convened for today a meeting aimed at addressing the organizational situation of the PAN, as well as analyzing the parliamentary elections in Madeira and the signed agreement.
PAN representative assures that agreement with PSD has “full legitimacy”.
However, the PAN deputy elected on Sunday to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, Mónica Freitas, assured that the parliamentary advocacy agreement signed with the PSD/CDS-PP coalition has “full legitimacy”, contradicting the statements of the regional voice.
Asked about the statements of the spokesperson of PAN/Madeira, Joaquim Sousa, who questioned the legality of the agreement and argued that he should have been present at the meeting with the representative of the Republic for Madeira, Mónica Freitas stated that the elements that were heard today ensure that part of the regional political committee.
And he added: “I am the elected deputy, so the agreement was signed with all the legitimacy of the people who had the power to do so.”
Mónica Freitas spoke to journalists at the Palácio de São Lourenço in Funchal, after the PAN was heard by the Representative of the Republic for Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, who is today receiving the political parties that achieved parliamentary representation in Sunday’s elections.
The deputy acknowledged that Joaquim Sousa remains the spokesperson, but reaffirmed that the situation is being addressed and “will be resolved very soon,” without providing further details.
Regarding the fact that the still spokesperson for the party’s regional structure was not informed of the meeting with the representative of the Republic, Mónica Freitas argued that “it did not have to be that way”, arguing that “he himself distanced himself from the party”. and the party’s issues since before the election campaign”.
The newly elected also mentioned that Joaquim Sousa recently wrote that he would not vote for the PAN and that he was even thinking about withdrawing.
“I think common sense should rule and if someone does not know these issues, it is normal that later he or she will not be summoned or not called to talk about them,” he stressed.
Regarding the meeting with Ireneu Barreto, Mónica Freitas indicated that the PAN had explained to the representative of the Republic for the region the terms of the agreement with the Somos Madeira coalition (PSD/CDS-PP).
“The aim of the PAN, as already mentioned, is to guarantee that there is parliamentary stability here too. But essentially it also ensures that there is conservation of the environment, there is protection of animal welfare and that we remain steadfast and steadfast. loyalty to those who are our targets,” he emphasized.
According to the official preliminary results, the Somos Madeira coalition won the regional parliamentary elections on Sunday with 43.13% of the votes, but failed to obtain an absolute majority with one deputy, for which 24 of the 47 seats in the parliament of the archipelago are needed. .
The PS chose eleven deputies, the JPP five and Chega four, while the CDU (PCP/PEV), BE, PAN and IL each chose one deputy.
On Sunday, after the results were known, the leader of the PSD/Madeira and president of the regional government since 2015, Miguel Albuquerque, assured that he was in a position to propose a government with a parliamentary majority, but stressed that Chega – the current government – for the first time in the hemisphere in the next term – was excluded from the agreement.
PAN and IL then expressed their willingness to ultimately reach an agreement with the PSD/CDS-PP coalition.
Source: DN
