During a debate organized by SIC featuring candidates for the Lisbon City Council Presidency in the local elections on October 12, including Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), João Ferreira (CDU-PCP/PEV), and Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega), the incident involving the Elevador da Glória became a focal point. Candidates exchanged arguments regarding investment in the municipal company Carris, which manages this public transport equipment in the city.
The Elevador da Glória in Lisbon, managed by the municipal company Carris, derailed on September 3, resulting in 16 fatalities and about 20 injuries, affecting both Portuguese citizens and foreign nationals.
“We increased Carris’s budget by 30%,” stated Carlos Moedas of the Social Democratic Party, while Alexandra Leitão of the Socialist Party countered that “this is not true” concerning spending on elevator maintenance.
In response, Moedas noted that the maintenance contract stems from a previous Carris administration appointed by the Socialist Party, initially valued at 900,000 euros. This amount has increased to 1.2 million euros, yet “there were no bidders” for the public tender.
Bruno Mascarenhas of Chega remarked that “problems at Carris have been identified for several months”. The issue prompted debate in the Municipal Assembly, but “the council avoided attending,” accusing Carlos Moedas of being “an expert in shirking responsibility.”
“There were numerous warnings from Carris workers, which these gentlemen present here were aware of and did nothing about”, Mascarenhas accused, criticizing both PS and PSD, asserting that simply throwing money at problems is an ineffective tactic.
João Ferreira, the lead candidate for CDU, challenged Carlos Moedas’s view by stating the council did not provide all necessary resources to Carris. He contended that the municipal transport company “malfunctions” and “fails to fulfill its purpose.”
Ferreira further stated that the average annual investment executed in Carris since its municipalization is 27 million euros, a figure which “is one-tenth of what the council returned over four years due to PSD’s choice, and also PS, and Chega in the Municipal Assembly,” amounting to 270 million euros in IRS returns to residents during this term, a measure mainly benefiting the top 10% of earners.
Regarding the Elevador da Glória accident, Alexandra Leitão reiterated the necessity for clarifications and determining responsibilities, “with time and calmness, to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.”
On political responsibility, Carlos Moedas, the current council president, highlighted the coordination of the immediate response, “as it was not just a Lisbon incident but also a national and international one,” as well as measures such as an independent external investigation and suspending all elevators.
“Resigning would be cowardice”, he emphasized.
Regarding measures post-accident, João Ferreira emphasized the PCP’s proposals approved by the council, including evaluating redundancy systems to enhance braking and reconsidering options for outsourcing maintenance services.
Bruno Mascarenhas argued that the Elevador da Glória should resume operations “with technology ensuring complete safety.”
Candidates competing for the Lisbon City Council in the October 12 local elections include Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), Alexandra Leitão (PS/Livre/BE/PAN), João Ferreira (CDU-PCP/PEV), Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega), Ossanda Líber (Nova Direita), José Almeida (Volt), Adelaide Ferreira (ADN), Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (PPM/PTP), and Luís Mendes (RIR).
Currently, the municipal executive comprises seven representatives from the “Novos Tempos” coalition – PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança, seven from the “Mais Lisboa” coalition – PS/Livre, two from CDU, and one from BE.
