PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro demanded that the government of Luís Montenegro declare the calamity situation to better support the populations affected by forest fires in Portugal. He criticized the lack of political leadership in combating flames and announced that the PS will propose the creation of an independent technical committee to evaluate the management of the crisis.
PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro has demanded that the government of Luís Montenegro declare a situation of calamity to better support the populations and regions of the country most fustomed by forest fires in recent weeks in Portugal.
“There is something that has to be summoned, which has to do with the situation of calamity, because, to support the populations, namely in the agriculture plan, in the agroforestry production plan, in the field of rehabilitation of industrial or business infrastructures and equipment, associated with the rural world, and the forest world, it is necessary to determine the calamity situation”, insisted the socialist leader, during a visit to a visit, during a visit to a visit, during a visit to a visit to a visit to a visit to a visit to a visit to a visit to a journalist. To Faial Island, in the Azores.
José Luís Carneiro had already suggested, on Sunday, thefollowing the strong fires that launched in various areas of the country, but Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, however, came to ask for confidence in the work developed by the National Civil Protection Service to combat flames.
“Of course, we have to trust the National Civil Protection device, and once again, express here our solidarity, in the face of all the efforts that are being made,” said José Luís Carneiro, added that “another issue is the political dimension”, of a state that “hurt” by not requesting support from the European Union, not determining the contingency situation, not to convene the National Civil Protection Commission and not declaring the calamity situation.
The PS secretary-general also considered that the recent statements of Luís Montenegro, regarding the European supports to combat flames, reveal ignorance about how these mechanisms workto cope with situations such as those that are currently occurring in Portugal.
“Myself, when I had responsibilities [no Ministério da Administração Interna] I went to the European Commission, with my European colleagues, not only demanding means, but also requiring them to be prepositioned, to respond more effectively, “said the former socialist minister.
José Luís Carneiro also said not being satisfied with the clarifications provided by the government on this article and guaranteed that the parliamentary group of the PS in the Assembly of the Republic will propose the creation of an independent technical committee to investigate the “lack of political driving” In this fight against the flames.
“An independent technical committee that can illustrate the way it has lacked driving and political monitoring” in this process, insisted the secretary general of the PS, recalling that, in this regard, “just listen to those responsible for various directive structures”, “the humanitarian associations of firefighters and even the mayors” of the burning areas, which in its understanding, “they have felt a void, particularly, in political accompaniment.”
In his opinion, there are three ministries who are essential for better coordination in combating flames (internal administration, national defense and justice), although all They should be coordinated by the National Civil Protection Commission That, in his opinion, unfortunately has not yet been summoned.
Questioned if it agrees with the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaralrequired yesterday by the PS secretary general replied that the blame for the mismanagement of the crisis is not just her: “One can not only raise responsibilities to a minister or a minister, which is why one has to ask the prime minister’s responsibilities.”
