Jardim's PSD trounced in 7 out of 11 Municipalities

Jardim's party, which has held a monopoly of all city governments, was yesterday trounced at the ballots.

In Funchal, the Coalition for Change, led by the independent, Paulo Cafofo, secured 5 of the 11 mandates, the PSD came second with 4, and the CDS and Communists both held on to one seat. Its the first time in 36 years since Jardim took power that Funchal will be governed by a force other than the PSD.

The Together for the People (JPP) civic movement in Santa Cruz won an even more spectacular victory, securing 5 mandates, leaving the PSD with two.

 

 

São Vicente also fell to an independent candidature which joined members of the opposition with disaffected PSD militants. The independents won 4 out of the five mandates, the former PSD mayor will now sit alone in oppostion.

 

 

The CDS, Christian Democrats won Santana, securing 3 mandates to the PSD's 2.

The Socialists won Porto Moniz, 3-2; Porto Santo, 3-2; and  Machico 4-3.



The results have shaken the Jardim dictatorship, but he still intends to hold on to power, blaming the national government for the results and promising to clean his party of those who have promoted internal divisions.

Welsh and Canha vs Portugal at the European Court Verdict

The European Court has overturned a verdict condemning myself and Gil Canha of difamation. The case was brought against us by the Vice President of Madeira, Cunha e Silva, for a report written in the satirical newspaper, Garajau.

The article was about the contracting of the lawyer, Garcia Pereira, a leader of the Portuguese Maoist Party, MRPP, resorting to government funding to sue the Garajau over articles on the dealings of Cunha e Silva.

The accused were absolved in the lower Court, where the judge made some very pertinente observations on the way public funding was being against the press. The appeals Court, though not calling into question the substance of the facts, overturned the ruling, condeming us to pay compensation to the Vice President.

The European Court has now overruled that verdict, saying the judgement violated article 10 of the convention and ntoing that such procedures were detrimental to press freedom.

See:

http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-126356

Funchal Municipal Elections Forecast

A recent opinion poll carried out by the Expresso shows the opposition coalition within reach of the PSD.

The PSD leads with 36,4%, followed by the 6 party coalition headed by Paulo Cafofo with 28,8%, the CDS with 24,8% and the Communist party with 6,9 %. 17,7% of those inquired were undecided.

The poll shows the PSD share of the vote has reduced dramatically and that the opposition is in the majority.

The opposition coalition was open to all parties, but the CDS refused to join. They are benefitting from a drift of discontented PSD supporters, owing to the split within the PSD, between President Jardim and the mayor of Funchal, Miguel Albuquerque. Jardim has launched virulent attacks on his internal rival and accuses him of being close to the CDS and of being controlled by the freemasons.

The coalition is consolidating its position with a strong door to door campaign.