Court case against Philip Sousa? “Shit”, says Albuquerque

O president of the Government of Madeira (PSD/CDS-PP) today classified as “a nonsense” the judicial process involving the deputy of the JPP in the Assembly of the Republic, Filipe Sousa, indicted for a crime of receipt or improper offer of advantage.

“ He is my political opponent, now I have no doubt that he is an honest man,” said Miguel Albuquerque, in a reaction to the news that the Public Ministry asked for the waiver of the immunity of the deputy of the Joint People (JPP), advanced today by the Lusa agency.

The case relates to an alleged practice of Filipe Sousa as Mayor of Santa Cruz in mandate 2021-2025, and is indicted for celebrating with Cassiano’s Rent Car, Lda, on 10 February 2025, a car rental contract for 28 days and for the overall price of 1,618,96 euros.

According to the Public Prosecutor, the manager of the said company will have decided not to charge rent when the vehicle was restored, on March 10, 2025, “only because this is the mayor of Santa Cruz and because of these functions”.

Filipe Sousa has “accepted not to pay the rent, well knowing that this corresponded to an asset advantage that was not due to him”, which can be included in the practice of “crime with direct intent”.

“ I think this is all a load of crap”, said Miguel Albuquerque.

Speaking on the margin of a visit to the Central Operatory Block of the Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, Funchal, also considered that “it’s all hypocrisy”, on the other hand, it is necessary to be “some care” in the face of complaints with the Public Prosecutor.

“So they will end up with politicians,” he observed, adding: “This story of denouncing everything is all hypocrisy.”

“ I was told it was a rental car. This is all nonsense”, reinforced, with irony, to immediately point out: “We need to focus on what is important, which is the development of the region.”