Admiral Gouveia e Melo, in remarks to journalists at the Ovibeja agricultural fair in Beja, stressed the need for a thorough investigation into Monday’s widespread power outage in Portugal, which lasted approximately 10 hours. “The blackout was a significant event. We need to understand the causes, learn from this, and draw lessons for the future,” he stated.
When asked about the incident that disrupted the nation, the former Chief of the Naval Staff acknowledged that it was “certainly an unpleasant experience” for all Portuguese citizens, though it “could have been more complicated.” He noted that authorities and entities involved were able to restore power across Portugal within a timely 10-hour window.
Accompanied by a group including various political figures from the Baixo Alentejo region, spanning from left to right, Gouveia e Melo underscored the need for deep reflection whenever such events occur. Among his entourage were a former civil governor of Beja from the PSD and a former mayor elected by the CDU, as well as other political figures.
“We should all ponder what this means, draw conclusions, and resolve matters for the future because no one wants such an incident to happen again,” he emphasized.
When queried about whether the situation posed a threat to national security and defense, the admiral clarified that it would require additional factors at play to constitute such a threat. “It’s a threat if other concurrent issues could affect the country’s security and defense,” he commented, while acknowledging, “it’s a vulnerability, and all vulnerabilities are dangerous.”
He cited the disruption to hospital operations, communication failures, and widespread public concern as elements that necessitate reflection. “Hospitals didn’t function as they should have, these systems are immediately affected. People were very worried, communications failed, prompting a spectrum of reflections,” he argued.
Gouveia e Melo indicated that, though the blackout appeared to be “an unprovoked event,” it is essential to “allow time for investigations” and draw the necessary “conclusions to learn, integrate into planning, and devise future mitigation strategies,” he added.
Having attended Ovibeja as a private citizen, at the invitation of supporters, Gouveia e Melo was asked about a potential presidential bid. He reiterated his consistent response, emphasizing current preparations for legislative elections and the priority of choosing a government, stating, “We are now at the core of preparation for the legislative elections, which is what matters now.”
On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, Gouveia e Melo opined that all Portuguese citizens are workers and should be “well remunerated.” “I believe the great fight Portugal must pursue in the near future is prosperity,” he argued, adding that while democracy has delivered freedom and security, there remains the need to deepen equity and prosperity.
