Madeira Opposition Denounces Five-Year Waiting Lists for Medical Procedures
Together for the People (Juntos pelo Povo or JPP) Secretary-General Élvio Sousa denounced prolonged healthcare delays in Madeira, stating that patients have spent over five years waiting for consultations, diagnostic exams, and surgeries. Sousa criticised the regional government led by the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the CDS-People's Party (CDS – Partido Popular or CDS-PP) for failing to resolve the backlog. The opposition leader called the multi-year waits unacceptable and urged structural reforms in the regional public healthcare system.
The JPP (Juntos Pelo Povo or Together for the People) is a regionalist political party based in the Madeira archipelago. Founded in 2009, it focuses on local governance and social issues within the region, often acting as a significant opposition force in the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.
The Social Democratic Party ('Partido Social Democrata' or 'PSD') is a liberal-conservative political party in Portugal that is the leading partner of the The Democratic Alliance (AD) which is the country's ruling party, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The Social Democratic Party, despite its name, occupies the centre-right of Portugal's political spectrum. Luís Montenegro, who became Prime Minister in April 2024, leads Portugal's current minority government. The PSD has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. Montenegro, a former party leader from 1996-1999, was elected with the highest approval rating among party leaders at 10.7 points out of 20.
The Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition that includes the smaller CDS – People's Party, a Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner. Together, they govern without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
