Lisbon municipal deputy Maria Escaja criticized the management of Carris by the city council, highlighting issues such as “outsourcing,” “underinvestment,” and “lack of preparation for increased users.”
The Bloquista official spoke during a Municipal Assembly of Lisbon debate on the mayor’s written report concerning activities from June to August, a session overshadowed by the tragic derailment of the Elevador da Glória, which resulted in 16 deaths and injuries to over twenty people.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another report, similar to previous ones, serving as government propaganda, even as situations worsen with no significant improvements in areas like housing,” Escaja stated, urging municipal deputies to honor the memory of the victims “so their deaths are not in vain” and to prevent such disasters from recurring in the city.
Reflecting on January 2022, during Carlos Moedas’ first municipal budget, Escaja pointed out that investment in Carris decreased “from 54.6 million euros to 46.6 million,” alongside October warnings about “failures in systems that previously worked well,” attributed to the mayor’s responsibility.
During the 2023 budget hearings, the BE warned of “outsourcing,” and in April 2023 of a “clear deterioration of service,” overcrowded buses, and a lack of reinforcement on popular routes. The budget debate indicated a “new reduction in investment,” dropping to 42.8 million.
Apart from outsourcing and a “lack of drivers and resources,” the Bloquistas also criticized the city council’s decision to divert four million euros from Carris to support the Web Summit, which later turned out to be possibly needed for elevator maintenance cost overruns, highlighting the “four million euros might actually be needed” by the company.
“For four years, we have systematically alerted to failures and issues that resulted in tragedy, while the president has taken credit for successes and deflected blame for failures,” Escaja accused, emphasizing that Moedas’ position “comes with inherent political responsibilities.”
Escaja added that the mayor “systematically refuses” these responsibilities, in contrast to the President of the Republic, who “is not suspected of radical leftist bias and clearly stated that political responsibility is his.”
Maria Escaja affirmed that “politics is not a disgrace,” but a duty to respect voters, “honor the victims’ memory,” and scrutinize the government’s work to improve city safety and prevent avoidable tragedies.
The mayor refrained from addressing “political and ideological” questions but stated that the four million euros claim regarding the Web Summit “is false” since “Carris secured 27 million from the European Union.”
“We saved four million and obtained 27 million,” reiterated Carlos Moedas, without further financial details.
Municipal deputy Bruno Mascarenhas from Chega queried the mayor on the maintenance of the Elevador da Glória, specifically if Carris knew that “the brakes were insufficient to stop” the equipment without balancing the two cabins’ weight.
Carlos Moedas deferred responses to an inquiry, arguing that Chega, by presenting a motion of censure, “is simply attempting to capitalize” on a tragedy.
