Madeira's long serving leader resigns

Madeira's long serving leader Albert Joao Jardim officially handed in his resignation on Monday.

Joao Jardim presented his official resignation at the Sao Lourenco Palace in Funchal, Madeira, ending his 36 years at the helm of the center-right party of the autonomous region.

He handed in his resignation a day after Miguel Albuquerque was acclaimed the party's new leader at the 15th regional congress of the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Funchal.

Joao Jardim had been leader of the PSD in Madeira since March 1978 and elected successively since then.

Albuquerque, a lawyer, was elected as the new leader on Dec. 29, with around 64 percent of the vote, while his rival Manuel Correia received around 35 percent of the vote.

On Sunday, Albuquerque promised a stronger Social Democratic Party and said he was confident he would gain an absolute majority in the region's 2015 elections next fall.

"From today, we will initiate the path to victory in the next regional elections," said Albuquerque on Sunday, according to Portuguese media.

"We want an absolute majority because in the current circumstances it is vital to build a functional government and with parliamentary stability."

Joao Jardim congratulated Albuquerque on Sunday and said he also hoped to see an absolute majority.

Joao Jardim has not revealed what he will do now that he has left his post but raised the possibility of being a candidate for the presidency in the 2016 elections. Endit