2023 Madeiran regional election

Regional elections were held in Madeira on 24 September 2023,"Eleições na Madeira marcadas para 24 de setembro ", Diário de Notícias, 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023. 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.

The incumbent president, Miguel Albuquerque from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led a coalition government between the Social Democrats and the CDS – People's Party, and defended the dominance of the Social Democratic Party in the islands since 1976. The PSD and CDS–PP contested the election in a joint coalition."PSD e CDS juntos (de novo) na corrida à liderança do Governo da Madeira em 2023 ", Público, 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.

The "We are Madeira" coalition, between the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP), won the election with 43 percent of the votes but, despite polling predictions, failed to hold on to their majority and won 23 seats, one short of a majority. On election night, Miguel Albuquerque announced he would present a "parliamentary majority solution" very shortly, but didn't give much details nor said with whom, although he refused any talks with Chega."Sem maioria absoluta, Albuquerque promete solução estável no Parlamento", Público, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

The Socialist Party (PS) suffered a big fall in support gathering just 21 percent of the votes and 11 seats, compared with their best results ever in 2019, almost 36 percent and 19 seats. Unlike 2019, it failed to win a single parish and municipality."Secretário-geral adjunto do PS admite que resultado "fica aquém do esperado"", Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. Together for the People (JPP) had their best showing ever, winning 11 percent of the votes and 5 seats, two more compared with 2019."JPP assinala melhor resultado de sempre com cinco deputados", RTP, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) was able to hold on to their sole seat and even increased their share of vote to 2.7 percent, compared with the 1.8 percent in 2019."Edgar Silva destaca que CDU não desapareceu na Madeira", Rádio Renascença, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. Chega (CH), which faced legal disputes regarding their presence on the ballot due to annulments of internal party decisions and that were settled with a Constitutional Court ruling that confirmed that the party could be on the ballot,https://expresso.pt/politica/partidos/2023-09-04-Constitucional-decidiu-Chega-pode-concorrer-as-regionais-da-Madeira-b90d384c "Constitucional decidiu: Chega pode concorrer às regionais da Madeira"], Expresso, 4 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023. had a very strong showing, winning almost 9 percent of the votes and electing 4 members to the regional parliament, a 8.5 percent growth compared with 2019."Ventura fala em "resultado histórico" do Chega e critica sondagens", TSF, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

The Liberal Initiative (IL) won 2.6 percent of the votes and elected one seat. The regional leader, Nuno Morna said he was open to talks with the PSD/CDS–PP coalition."IL abre caminho a acordo na Madeira: "Não rejeitamos conversar"", Rádio Renascença, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. Likewise, People-Animals-Nature (PAN), which won 2.2 percent of the votes and returned after 8 years to the regional parliament, was also open to supporting a PSD/CDS–PP government."PAN de "portas abertas" a coligação pós-eleitoral ", RTP, 24 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023. Left Bloc (BE) polled 2.2 percent and also returned to the Madeira Parliament after losing their seat in 2019.

Two days after the election, PAN and the PSD/CDS–PP signed a deal that ensured a majority in the regional Parliament."PAN confirma acordo com PSD/CDS e viabiliza maioria absoluta", CNN Portugal, 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023. PSD/CDS–PP accepted a series of PAN demands and Miguel Albuquerque said he was "very pleased" by the outcome of the deal.""Temos uma plataforma de estabilidade para governar nos próximos quatro anos". Miguel Albuquerque garante estar "muito satisfeito" após negociações com PAN", CNN Portugal, 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023. Also, Albuquerque didn't rule out occasional agreements with the Liberal Initiative."Albuquerque admite que pode ter acordos pontuais com a IL", Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

The turnout in these elections decreased compared to the previous one, with 53.3 percent of voters casting a ballot, compared with the 55.5 percent in the 2019 elections.

Background In the 2019 regional election, the PSD was again the most voted party, 39 percent, but failed for the first time to win an absolute majority."Eleições históricas na Madeira. PSD perde maioria. PS mais do que triplica. Coligação de direita à vista", Diário de Notícias, 23 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2023. The party was followed closely by the PS which polled at almost 36 percent. After the elections, PSD and CDS–PP formed a coalition government which guaranteed an absolute majority in the regional parliament."Já há acordo para uma coligação PSD-CDS na Madeira", Observador, 1 October 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

Leadership changes and challenges Socialist Party In the aftermath of the 2021 local elections, in which the PS lost a lot of ground, especially the loss of Funchal to a PSD/CDS–PP coalition,"Resultado autárquicas. PSD recupera Funchal e líder do PS-M demite-se ", Público, 27 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023. the then PS leader Paulo Cafôfo resigned from the leadership and refused to run again."Paulo Cafôfo demite-se da liderança do PS/Madeira", Rádio Renascença, 27 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023. In the following PS leadership election, in February 2022, Sérgio Gonçalves was elected as the new leader with nearly 99 percent of the votes."Sérgio Gonçalves eleito líder do PS/Madeira com 98,6% dos votos", Observador, 19 February 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

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 Current composition The table below lists parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira before the election. Name Ideology Leader 2019 result % Seats PPD/PSD Social Democratic Party Liberal conservatism Miguel Albuquerque 39.4% PS Socialist Party Social democracy Sérgio Gonçalves 35.8% CDS–PP CDS – People's Party Conservatism Rui Barreto 5.8% JPP Together for the People Social liberalism Élvio Sousa 5.5% PCP Portuguese Communist Party Communism Edgar Silva 1.8%

Parties running in the election 13 parties/coalitions were on the ballot for the 2023 Madeira regional election. The parties/coalitions that contested the election and their lead candidates were: (parties/coalitions are ordered by the way they appeared on the ballot)ALRAM 2023 – Sorteio das candidaturas, Comissão Nacional de Eleições, 16 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.

Portuguese Labour Party (PTP), Quintino Costa Together for the People (JPP), Élvio Sousa Left Bloc (BE), Roberto AlmadaMariana Mortágua convicta de que BE regressará ao parlamento da Madeira, Observador, 4 June 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023. Socialist Party (PS), Sérgio Gonçalves Enough (CH), Miguel Castro“Vamos acabar com a maioria do PSD na Madeira”, diz Ventura, Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023. React, Include, Recycle (RIR), Roberto VieiraRIR lamenta que Governo Regional tenha recebido Paulo Cafôfo, Jornal da Madeira, 18 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023. Earth Party (MPT), Valter RodriguesEMPT procura candidatos que acreditem "num futuro melhor" para a Madeira, Jornal da Madeira, 24 February 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023. National Democratic Alternative (ADN), Miguel PitaMiguel Pita candidato pelo ADN às eleições regionais, Jornal da Madeira, 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Social Democratic Party/CDS – People's Party We are Madeira coalition (PSD/CDS–PP), Miguel Albuquerque People-Animals-Nature (PAN), Mónica Freitas"Últimos oito anos foram anos de entretenimento e não de discernimento", Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 1 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023."“Incompatibilidades políticas” levam PAN a substituir cabeça de lista às eleições na Madeira", Público, 11 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023. LIVRE (L), Tiago CamachoTiago Camacho será cabeça-de-lista do LIVRE às Eleições Regionais, Diário de Notícias da Madeira, 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023. Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), Edgar Silva Liberal Initiative (IL), Nuno MornaNuno Morna vai ser o cabeça-lista da IL nas eleições regionais na Madeira, Observador, 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.

Campaign period Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs PSD/CDS–PP « Somos Madeira » "We are Madeira" PS « O voto que muda a Madeira » "The vote that changes Madeira" JPP « Em frente. Sem medo! » "Forward. Without fear!" CDU « Viver melhor na nossa terra! » "Live better in our land!" BE « O Bloco faz falta » "The Bloc is needed" PAN « O voto que faz a diferença » "The vote that makes the difference" IL « O liberalismo funciona. E faz falta à Madeira » "Liberalism works. And Madeira needs it" CH « Vamos acabar com a corrupção na Madeira! » "Let's end corruption in Madeira!"

Election debates + 2023 Madeiran regional election debates Date Organisers Moderator PSD/CDS PS JPP CDU BE PAN RIR PTP IL CH ADN MPT L 24 Aug RTP Madeira Gil Rosa NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI 31 Aug RTP Madeira Gil Rosa NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI 7 Sep RTP Madeira Gil Rosa NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI

Opinion polls Graphical summary

Polling Polls that showed their results without distributing those respondents who were undecided or said they would abstain from voting, were re-calculated by removing those numbers from the totals through a simple rule of three, in order to obtain results comparable to other polls and the official election results.

2023 Madeiran regional election

Bron en licentie