2024_Azorean_regional_election

2024 Azorean regional election

2024 Azorean regional election

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The 2024 Azorean regional election was held on 4 February 2024,[2] to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The election replaced all 57 members of the Azores Assembly, and the new members would then elect the President of the Autonomous Region.

Quick Facts 57 seats to the Legislative Assembly of the Azores 29 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

President José Manuel Bolieiro, from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led a coalition government between the Social Democrats, the CDS – People's Party (CDS-PP) and People's Monarchist Party (PPM), with the parliamentary support of CHEGA since late 2020. The Liberal Initiative (IL) initially supported the PSD coalition government but withdrew their support from the government on 8 March 2023.[3] The Social Democrats, the CDS – People's Party and the People's Monarchist Party contested this election in a joint coalition as stipulated in their 2020 coalition agreement.[4]

The PSD/CDS/PPM coalition won the election with 42% of the votes and elected 26 seats, the same number as of 2020. The Socialist Party (PS) failed to be the most voted party for the first time since 1996, gathering less than 36% of the votes and electing 23 seats, minus two compared with 2020.[5]

CHEGA was the party that most increased its share, achieving 9% of the votes and electing 5 seats to the regional parliament.[6] The Left Bloc (BE) lost ground, compared with 2020, losing one seat, while the Liberal Initiative (IL) and the People-Animals-Nature (PAN) were able to hold on to their sole seats. The Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) failed to return to the regional parliament.

Turnout stood at 50.3%, the highest rate since 2004.

Background

2023 government crisis

The PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government was, since the beginning, marred by instability due to political tensions between or within parties, especially CHEGA, which even lost a member of the regional Parliament during the Parliamentary term.[7] But, on 8 March 2023, the Liberal Initiative decided to remove their support for the government, citing deep disagreements on policy and tensions between the minor parties within the coalition, CDS-PP and PPM particularly.[8] Shortly after, the independent MP Carlos Furtado, a CHEGA dissident, also withdrew his support for the government accusing the government of lack of institutional respect and for failing to follow the deal between them and Furtado.[9]

Following these announcements, that made the government lose its majority, President José Manuel Bolieiro rejected the idea of a motion of confidence and said that he will continue to govern, but that elections could be on the table.[10] The PS, the main opposition party, discussed the possibility of presenting a motion of no confidence against the government,[11] but the idea was dropped, and the PSD coalition government governed as a minority and negotiated case by case with parties.[12]

Rejection of the budget proposal for 2024

In 23 November 2023, the parliament of Azores failed to approve the regional government's budget proposal for 2024. 28 MPs voted against it, 27 MPs voted in favor and 2 MPs abstained. The votes against it were cast by PS (25), BE (2) and IL (1). The votes in favor were by PSD (21), CDS-PP (3), PPM (2) and the independent MP Carlos Furtado (1). CHEGA (1) and PAN (1) abstained. According to the Framework Law for the Budget of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, the regional government must present a new budget proposal within 90 days of the rejection of the previous proposal. The president of the regional government, José Manuel Bolieiro, said he wanted to present a new budget proposal. That same day, the President of Portugal scheduled meetings for 30 November, at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, with the parties represented in the parliament of Azores.[13][14][15]

On the meeting with the President of Portugal, in 30 November, José Manuel Bolieiro said that it seemed pointless to present a second budget proposal without a guarantee of its approval and that early regional legislative elections should be held as quickly as possible. He suggested the date of 4 February 2024 for the elections and announced that PSD, CDS-PP and PPM would run together as a coalition. PS, CDS-PP, BE, PPM and IL also said they wanted early elections.[16][17]

On 11 December, after meeting with the Council of State, the President of Portugal dissolved the regional parliament of the Azores and called early elections for 4 February 2024.[18]

Electoral system

The Azores regional parliament elects 57 members through a proportional system in which the 9 islands elect a number of MPs proportional to the number of registered voters. MPs are allocated by using the D'Hondt method. 5 members are also elected for a compensation constituency. Distribution of MPs by constituency:[19]

More information Constituency, Total MPs ...

Parties

Current composition

The table below lists parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of the Azores before the election.

More information Name, Ideology ...

Parties running in the election

11 lists will be on the ballot for the 2024 Azorean regional election, eight parties and three coalitions. The parties that will contest the election and their lead candidates, are: (alphabetically ordered)[22]

Campaign period

Party slogans

More information Party or alliance, Original slogan ...

Candidates' debates

More information Date, Organisers ...

Opinion polls

  Exit poll

More information Polling firm/Link, Fieldwork date ...

Voter turnout

The table below will show voter turnout throughout election day.

More information Turnout, Time ...

Results

Regional summary

More information Parties, Votes ...
More information Vote share ...
More information Parliamentary seats ...

Results by constituency

More information Constituency, % ...

Aftermath

The PSD/CDS/PPM coalition failed to win an outright majority but, nonetheless, the right-wing parties, altogether, won a strong majority of 32 seats.[45] However, any kind of deal between the Coalition, Chega and the Liberal Initiative would prove very difficult due to deep disagreements between parties, and José Manuel Bolieiro announced he would govern as a minority.[46] Bolieiro asked for "common sense" from the PS, but the Socialists announced that they would vote against a PSD/CDS/PPM minority.[47][48] On 20 February 2024, Boleiro was nominated as President of the Regional Government by the Representative of the Republic in the Azores, Pedro Catarino.[49] The new Azores regional parliament was sworn in on 22 February 2024.[50] Bolieiro second cabinet was sworn in on 4 March 2024 and the government's program was approved on 15 March with the votes of PSD, CDS and PPM, and abstentions from Chega, IL and PAN. PS and BE voted against, as it was expected.[51]

More information Ballot →, 15 March 2024 ...

Notes

  1. As leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
  2. Sum of votes and seats of the PSD, CDS–PP and PPM in the 2020 election. PSD: 33.7%, 21 seats; CDS–PP: 5.5%, 3 seats; PPM: 2.4%, 2 seats.
  3. Retained seat in the legislature via the compensatory list
  4. Expelled from CHEGA's caucus[21]
  5. Denotes a main invitee attending the event.
  6. Denotes a main invitee not attending the event, sending a surrogate in their place.
  7. Results presented here exclude undecideds (13.3%). With their inclusion results are: PSD/CDS/PPM: 36.6%; PS: 33.5%; CHEGA: 6.3%; BE: 1.9%; PAN: 1.9%; IL: 1.4%; CDU: 1.3%; Others/Invalid: 3.8%.
  8. In 2020, voter turnout update was with data until 16:00.

References

    1. Alteração à Lei Eleitoral da ALRA dos Açores - CNE (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Comissão Nacional dos Eleições, archived from the original on 2009-02-19
    2. IL rompe acordo de incidência parlamentar com Governo dos Açores Notícias ao Minuto, 8 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
    3. Açores. Após IL, deputado independente também rompe acordo com Governo Notícias ao Minuto, 8 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
    4. Bolieiro recusa moção de confiança e ser "fator de instabilidade" Jornal de Notícias, 8 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
    5. Crise política nos Açores: Bolieiro promete estabilidade governativa SIC Notícias, 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
    6. Henriques, João (23 November 2023). "Parlamento dos Açores chumba orçamento. Marcelo convoca partidos". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    7. "Orçamento dos Açores para 2024 chumbado com votos contra da IL, PS e BE e abstenções do Chega e PAN". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    8. "Lei n.º 79/98, de 24 de novembro". Diário da República (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    9. Martins, Susana (30 November 2023). "PSD quer eleições antecipadas nos Açores. "Mais vale antecipar uma decisão do povo"". Radio Renascença (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    10. Soares, Tiago; Correia, João. "Governo regional dos Açores pede eleições antecipadas para 4 de fevereiro". Expresso (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
    11. "É oficial: Marcelo confirma eleições antecipadas nos Açores". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
    12. Mapa de Deputados (PDF), Lisbon, Portugal: Diário da Républica, 12 December 2023
    13. "PCP/Açores: Marco Varela não será candidato às eleições regionais antecipadas". RTP Açores (in European Portuguese). 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    14. Lusa, Agência. "Chega com candidatos em todos os círculos e José Pacheco cabeça de lista em São Miguel". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    15. "Regionais 2024: Nuno Barata volta a encabeçar a lista da IL por São Miguel e compensação". RTP Açores (in European Portuguese). 2023-12-22. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    16. Lusa, Agência. "JPP candidata ex-líder do Chega às regionais dos Açores". DNOTICIAS.PT (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    17. Lusa, Agência. "Livre candidata-se aos 10 círculos e acredita em bom resultado nos Açores". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    18. Lusa (2023-12-29). "Partidos estimam gastar mais de 960 mil euros na campanha". Açoriano Oriental (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-29.
    19. Lusa (2023-12-09). "PSD/Açores aprova coligação com CDS-PP e PPM e designa Bolieiro cabeça-de-lista". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    20. Constitutional Court (2023-12-27). "Acordão nº 879/2023" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-12-29.
    21. "Regionais 2024: Vasco Cordeiro é cabeça de lista por São Miguel e Compensação". RTP Açores (in European Portuguese). 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
    22. "PSD Açores Facebook page". PSD Açores Facebook page (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    23. "PS Açores Facebook page Vasco Cordeiro, o Presidente de Confiança". PS Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    24. "Chega Açores Facebook page". Chega Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    25. "Bloco de Esquerda Açores Facebook page". Bloco de Esquerda Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    26. "Iniciativa Liberal - Açores Facebook page". Iniciativa Liberal Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    27. "PAN Açores Facebook page". PAN Açores Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
    28. "Movimento Juntos pelo Povo Açores Facebook page". JPP Açores (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    29. "Regionais 2024 Debate de Líderes". RTP Açores (in Portuguese). 21 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
    30. "Eleições nos Açores. Até às 11h00 tinham ido votar 9,16% dos eleitores". observador.pt (in Portuguese). Observador. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
    31. "Regionais 2024 Afluência". regionais2024.mai.gov.pt (in Portuguese). Ministry of Internal Administration. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
    32. "Mapa Oficial n.º 1-B/2024, de 12 de Fevereiro", Diário da República, 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
    33. Direita conquista maioria dos deputados nos Açores com 31 assentos Notícias ao Minuto, 5 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    34. Decisão do PS Açores é de "voto contra" governo da AD RTP, 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    35. Açores. José Manuel Bolieiro pediu bom senso ao PS RTP, 8 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
    36. Açores. Novo Parlamento já está em funções com 57 lugares RTP, 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
    37. Açores: aprovado programa do novo Governo Regional SIC Notícias, 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.

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