In a statement to the Portuguese American Journal, Berta Cabral confirmed her intention to resign as leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the Azores.
The former Mayor of Ponta Delgada, and former candidate for President of the Government of the Azores, Cabral will make a formal announcement on Monday to the Regional Committee of her party.
According to several sources, Cabral will be replaced by Duarte Freitas, the favorite on a list of candidates which also includes the names of Maria do Céu Patrão Neves, Pedro Nascimento Cabral e Pedro Gomes.
Berta Cabral, 59, was defeated by the Socialist Party (PS) candidate, Vasco Cordeiro, 39, who was elected Regional President of the Azores, on October 14, with an absolute majority of 49% of votes.
Cordeiro, the leader of the Socialist Party (PS) in the Azores, won 31 out of a total of 57 parliamentary seats for his party. Cabral with 33% of votes won 20 parliamentary seats for her party. The Christian Democrats (CDS-PP) won third place with 6% of ballots, winning 3 parliamentary seats.
The regional legislative elections also elected a new Legislative Assembly. Cordeiro will replace incumbent Socialist Party (PS) Carlos César, 16 years in office as the President of the Regional Government of the Azores.
Berta Cabral was first elected Mayor of Ponta Delgada in 2001. She was reelected Mayor in 2005 and 2009. She is the first woman mayor of Ponta Delgada, the capital city of the Azores. She is also the first woman leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the region. If elected, she would have been the first woman President of the Regional Government of the Azores.
The Azores (population 250,000) became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. Read more >>
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