He has repeatedly affirmed that this is his last mandate but, this week, Madeira’s leader for the past four decades revealed: “One should never say never.” Alberto João Jardim has now decided he is not tired of politics (as intimated recently) … he is simply tired of the PSD-Madeira (his own political party).
Thus, when he comes to the end of his mandate next year, he may end up running for his beloved island as the leader of PSF (Partido Social Federalista).
For now, the controversial character who has just three months left to go before he has been in power as long as Salazar ruled over the mainland is enjoying telling all and sundry how his new party will be based on the great principles of distributive justice, in accordance with the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
It will also push for a decentralisation of power “so that resources don’t all stay in Lisbon”.
“I have a theory in politics, which I learnt through experience,” he said this week. “One should never say never; nor should one ever say always”.
