"We have a free and optimistic expectation because, compared to the September elections, at least people want to punish at the polls the person responsible for these early elections and for the fact (...) that the government did not approve the budget. This was always an act of irresponsibility," stated Élvio Sousa in a campaign action near Sé do Funchal.

The also secretary-general of JPP stressed that the people of Madeira want "a clean-up", referring to the fact that he is using a word that is frequently used by people in the contacts he has made.

The candidacy dedicated today's initiative to the creation of a maritime line between Madeira and the mainland, one of the measures of its government program.

"With us in the government, I can say, assure, you can trust, that the ferry will dock in Funchal," assured Élvio Sousa, adding that this will not happen this year, only in 2025.

The also deputy in the parliament of Madeira said that the non-existence of this maritime connection is "a competitive and economic disadvantage that is quite significant", recalling that this was a promise not fulfilled by the PSD and PS.

Refuting the statements of other parties that this operation costs "millions of euros", Élvio Sousa said that he has been in contact with Iberian operators who "assured that they are interested in bringing the ferry back to the region at zero cost" because the line "is profitable".

"There is an initial phase of market maturation, in those first 8/9 months, which may require some cosmetic operation, with a very reduced budgetary impact," he explained, stressing that JPP already has a "closed commercial agreement" in this sense.

For this candidate, Madeira "is being sequestered by monopolies" and "Miguel Albuquerque is being manipulated and orchestrated by half a dozen business families" on the island.

"It is the economic power that rules the political power" in this autonomous region, he said.

Questioned about possible agreements after the elections, Élvio Sousa indicated that "between one and the other [PS and PSD], let the devil come and choose", pointing out that "they are all addicted" and the leaders of these parties "have already betrayed the people of Madeira".

The head of the JPP list is "confident that the people of Madeira" will give him "a good result" in these elections and left messages.

"Whoever wants our alliance has to accept the 15 principles," he said, listing some: the formation of a government with five secretaries, an effective expense reduction program of 50 ME per year, a ferry connection without compensatory indemnities, a free regime program for agriculture, without monopolies, and an international public tender for the port operation to regulate prices.

The legislative elections on Sunday in Madeira will take place with 14 candidacies competing for the 47 seats in the regional parliament, in a single electoral district: ADN, BE, PS, Livre, IL, RIR, CDU (PCP/PEV), Chega, CDS-PP, MPT, PSD, PAN, PTP and JPP.

The early elections take place eight months after the most recent regional legislative elections, after the President of the Republic dissolved the parliament of Madeira, following the political crisis triggered in January, when the leader of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP), Miguel Albuquerque, was constituted as a defendant in a process in which suspicions of corruption are being investigated.

In September 2023, the PSD/CDS coalition won without an absolute majority and elected 23 deputies. The PS won 11, the JPP five, Chega four, while the CDU, IL, PAN (which signed an agreement of parliamentary incidence with the social democrats) and BE obtained one mandate each.

Read Also: "Confident" in victory, Albuquerque only thinks about agreements after the elections (Portuguese version)