Jardim threatens political crisis

President Jardim has threatened not to sign the agreement with the national government to help pay off the Madeira debt (an accumulated a debt of 6 billion Euro), saying that the current plan is not feasible. Taking absolutely no responsibility for the current financial situation, his government has instead opted to incite the population against the Portuguese Government.

The Secretary of finance made a statement this week saying that he did not pay the pharmacies in order to give priority to EU funded programs, an absurd excuse seeing that the debt to the pharmacies has been accumulated over many years.

The Forum for Autonomy, a pro-independence association (essentially a shadow of the now defunct separatist terrorist group, FLAMA), an organization headed by PSD members and Jardim by, himself has called for a referendum on the independence of Madeira.

The belligerent tone was earlier set by Guilherme Silva (PSD), vice president of the Portuguese Parliament, who called for Madeirans to ‘resist’ against the national government (also PSD).

The threat of separatism has been used on many occasions by Jardim to blackmail the various national governments. Sources close to Jardim say that, should the Portuguese government not capitulate, he intends to create a national crisis to bring down the government.

Jardim, whose Party voted down requests by opposition Parties to debate the austerity measures in the regional parliament, has announced he will be holding meeting on the 20^th of January to explain the measures to his own Party grass roots.