On the official Facebook page of his candidacy for the presidency, Gouveia e Melo expressed being “shocked and incredulous” at the stance of certain political leaders who, “detached from the terror experienced by the population, continue their agendas in a bubble of cynicism in the face of suffering.”
“If they cannot prevent or remedy, it is expected, at the very least, that they stand by the people in their suffering,” the candidate argued, stating that he has spent recent days “glued to the television, overwhelmed by images of fire devouring” the national territory.
In his post, Gouveia e Melo rejects the notion that discussing fires is “political opportunism” or that debate should only occur “after the fight” against the wave of fires affecting the country.
This statement was made after the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, declared on Thursday during a speech at the Festa do Pontal that he would not evaluate the firefighting efforts because the country is “in the middle of a war, and it’s not during the war” that such discussions should take place.
“Let’s first win the war, save people, our heritage, our country, and then we will do even better in the future,” he stated.
“These are mere excuses to buy time and try to lessen responsibilities,” Gouveia e Melo wrote, cautioning that “burying one’s head in the sand, delaying what is difficult to resolve, and managing media agendas may not be the best solution.”
His criticism also extends to those who, elsewhere in the country, “celebrate holidays and take smiling pictures at summer political events,” displaying a “disrespect that undermines confidence in democracy.”
For the presidential candidate, “a true leader,” even when unable to do more, “is at the forefront with his people, showing that he does not shy away from the responsibilities he sought to assume.”
Conversely, he argues, what happens in the country year after year is that “memory fades,” and prevention, planning, and structural investments “remain off the agenda.” He concluded his post by expressing gratitude to the firefighters, military, police, doctors, and nurses dedicated to fighting the fires and to the communities assisting in the efforts.
