2015 Madeiran regional election

2015 Madeiran regional election

29 March 2015

47 seats to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira
24 seats needed for a majority
Turnout49.6% 7.8 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Miguel Albuquerque José Manuel Rodrigues Victor Freitas
Party PSD CDS–PP PS
Alliance Change
Last election 25 seats, 48.6% 9 seats, 17.6% 11 seats, 22.4%
Seats won 24 7 6
Seat change 1 2 5
Popular vote 56,569 17,489 14,574
Percentage 44.4% 13.7% 11.4%
Swing 4.2 pp 3.9 pp 11.0 pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Élvio Sousa Edgar Silva Roberto Almada
Party JPP CDU BE
Last election Did not contest 1 seat, 3.8% 0 seats, 1.7%
Seats won 5 2 2
Seat change 5 1 2
Popular vote 13,114 7,060 4,849
Percentage 10.3% 5.5% 3.8%
Swing New party 1.8 pp 2.1 pp

The most voted party in each municipality.

President before election

Alberto João Jardim
PSD

Elected President

Miguel Albuquerque
PSD

A regional election was held in Madeira on 29 March 2015, to determine the composition of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. The election was the first in which the former President of the Region, Alberto João Jardim, was not on the ballot as he earlier stated that he would step down as President and leader of the PSD-Madeira in January 2015. On 29 December 2014, the PSD-Madeira elected Miguel Albuquerque as the new president of the party's regional section. After winning the presidency, Albuquerque stated that he would not assume the Presidency of the Government without an election, so Alberto João Jardim asked President Aníbal Cavaco Silva to dissolve the Parliament and call an election, which was scheduled for 29 March.

The campaign for the regional legislative election in Madeira ran from 15 to 27 March 2015.

The results showed that the Social Democrats were reelected for the 11th time in a row and, again, with an absolute majority of 24 seats, against the 25 seats won in 2011. The People's Party was again the second most voted party and the coalition between the Socialists and other smaller parties called Change suffered a huge defeat by winning fewer votes and seats compared to the combined total of the parties in 2011. Together for the People was the surprise of the election winning 10.3 percent of the vote and winning 5 seats. The Unitary Democratic Coalition increase their result by one MP and the Left Bloc returned to the regional parliament with 2 seats.

The turnout in these elections was the lowest ever, with 49.6 percent of voters casting a ballot.