In a campaign event this morning in the Benfica district, the socialist candidate reiterated what she posted on social media Friday night regarding a journalistic report aired by RTP. The report indicated that family members of victims and injured parties had not been contacted by the city council or the insurance company.
“There are victims (…) who, contrary to repeated claims by the current mayor, were not contacted by him or anyone from the city council,” she noted, emphasizing that only through journalistic investigation have alarming facts emerged regarding the accident a month ago that resulted in 16 deaths and two dozen injuries.
The latest revelations by RTP “seriously question the (…) suitability for the position” of Carlos Moedas, according to the head of the coalition list that includes the PS, Livre, BE, and PAN.
“I never called for Carlos Moedas’ resignation, always maintaining it was best to await the results” of the investigation into the accident, she recalled, acknowledging, however, that “the negligence revealed in the meantime places the necessary standards for the role of mayor of Lisbon in question.”
The Lisbon mayor, seeking re-election with the PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition, accused the PS today of trying to “politicize and partidarize” the tragedy of the Glória elevator, asserting that the municipality “did not fail” in supporting victims and their families.
Alexandra Leitão did not state whether the current mayor “should remain or not” in office, noting that there is only a week left until the municipal elections.
She recalled that in the days following the accident, Carlos Moedas justified not convening the council “because he was going to meet the victims,” which the opposition accepted.
Furthermore, a support fund for the victims was approved by the council, which “Carlos Moedas ultimately did not create, did not do anything,” she criticized.
“As mayor, the first thing I will do is establish this fund,” she promised.
The Glória elevator is “a public facility where people died, where people were injured,” she remarked, citing “complete disinterest” from Carlos Moedas.
“What else will we discover about the elevator?” she questioned, asking Lisbon residents if they “want to elect someone who lied, who avoided offering explanations by claiming to be supporting the victims when indeed he was not supporting them” and who, when confronted with RTP’s investigation, initially reaffirmed “that he had been with all the victims,” but later issued “a statement admitting that he hadn’t met with all the victims.”
In addition to candidate Alexandra Leitão, others running for the Lisbon City Council in the October 12 municipal elections include the current president Carlos Moedas (PSD/CDS-PP/IL), João Ferreira (CDU-PCP/PEV), Ossanda Líber (Nova Direita), José Almeida (Volt), Adelaide Ferreira (ADN), Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (PPM/PTP), Luís Mendes (RIR), and Bruno Mascarenhas (Chega).
Currently, the municipal executive includes seven elected members from the “Novos Tempos” coalition – PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança, seven from the “Mais Lisboa” coalition – PS/Livre, two from the CDU, and one from the BE.
