The initiative by Livre saw abstentions from PS, Iniciativa Liberal, and PAN, while receiving support from PCP and the sole deputies of Bloco de Esquerda and Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP).
Within the same series of votes, a proposal by PCP for an inquiry into the causes of the blackout was rejected by PSD, Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, and CDS, with PS and PAN abstaining.
On Thursday, during a plenary debate, PSD and CDS labeled Livre’s proposal for a parliamentary inquiry as “untimely,” arguing that the government is set to present measures to enhance Portugal’s energy and telecommunications resilience and autonomy.
Chega accused Livre of helping PS with its initiative, suggesting it was covering for the socialist governments’ responsibilities, which had “bowed to Brussels” in supporting green energies.
During the debate’s opening, Livre’s deputy Jorge Pinto highlighted that Portugal experienced its largest energy blackout ever, potentially resulting in economic losses of up to one billion euros.
Jorge Pinto stated that Livre did not aim to assign blame but rather to understand what went wrong to prevent such events and better prepare the country for extreme circumstances, natural accidents, or terrorist attacks.
The stance of Livre received backing from JPP deputy Filipe Sousa, while PCP’s Alfredo Maia and Bloco de Esquerda’s Mariana Mortágua linked the incident to the vulnerability of public power and the dominance of private interests in the energy sector. Alfredo Maia specifically mentioned a “capitulation” of political power to private interests.
Representing PS, deputy Pedro Vaz distanced the party from forming a parliamentary inquiry, emphasizing that the socialist members will instead propose creating a working group on the blackout’s causes within the environmental committee.
Iniciativa Liberal’s deputy Jorge Teixeira acknowledged the severity of the blackout, particularly its impact on SIRESP, hospitals, and telecommunications, but suggested that initially, discussions should be held within parliamentary committees.
“If there are no clarifications, then we consider a committee of inquiry,” he stated.
In a heated debate moment, Chega deputy Pedro Frazão criticized Livre, associating them with “climate terrorists” and calling the parliamentary inquiry proposal “a farce” in a country he claimed “kneels” to climate dogmas.
Previously, Mariana Mortágua warned against the discourse of the “nuclear and fossil lobby.”
