“The scale of this tragedy imposes an unprecedented public institutional responsibility. We are facing the tragedy of the century, and the Lisbon City Council must respond firmly, transparently, and diligently. It is clear that there is a before and after this accident, and the future public trust depends on how the causes are understood and responsibilities assumed by the municipality,” said PS councilor Pedro Anastácio in statements to Lusa.
The derailment of the Glória lift occurred on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in 16 deaths and over 20 injuries involving people of various nationalities.
In the immediate aftermath, the PS council members chose restraint in their statements due to the event’s severity, now proposing measures to address the tragedy “swiftly and transparently,” including establishing a municipal support office for victims with psychological support, legal assistance, coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and aid for immediate expenses.
“The creation of a memorial on Calçada da Glória” is another measure by the PS, indicating that the proposal also focuses on determining responsibility for the accident. They have requested the municipal company Carris, which manages the Glória lift, to provide “within 24 hours” all contracts associated with this public transport equipment, including direct maintenance service contracts.
The PS also proposes establishing an external audit committee, including universities, to “evaluate compliance with contractual obligations, oversight of services provided, and maintenance standards of Lisbon’s elevators and funiculars.”
The PS council’s proposal will be presented at the extraordinary city council meeting scheduled for Monday, with the sole focus on the Glória lift accident.
This extraordinary municipal executive meeting was announced on Thursday by Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD), following participation in the Council of Ministers meeting, at the invitation of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro (PSD), which took place at the Palácio de São Bento.
PS councilor Pedro Anastácio believed that the council meeting should have occurred first: “It would have made sense for Carlos Moedas to start there and not at São Bento, as the mayor coordinates the response from the municipality.”
Regarding political responsibilities for this accident, the socialist refused to demand resignations, emphasizing the need to determine the derailment’s causes, noting, however, that the ultimate responsibility lies with the mayor because Carris is a municipal company.
“The municipality sets the policies of Carris. It is the main shareholder, so, from a technical and political responsibility perspective, these must be assumed accordingly,” stated the PS councilor, noting that it is Carlos Moedas’s role to assess this.
“What does Carlos Moedas 2021 have to say to Carlos Moedas 2025?” questioned Pedro Anastácio, recalling the stance of the social democrat during the 2021 local elections when he called for the resignation of then-mayor Fernando Medina (PS) due to the municipality’s sharing of Russian activists’ data.
The PS councilor also expressed “astonishment and indignation” at the information provided on Thursday by Carris president Pedro de Brito Bogas, considering it “an attempt to demonstrate that everything was done correctly.”
“It seems a hasty conclusion causing a feeling of revolt,” he remarked, suggesting that the president of Carris should provide clarifications at a future council meeting scheduled for September 11.
Regarding the outsourcing of Carris elevator maintenance, including the Glória lift, the socialist stated the issue is not whether the maintenance is internal or external but whether it is adequately performed, ensuring safety and confidence for network users.
