Former Secretary-General of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Miguel Relvas commented on Wednesday regarding the afternoon debate about firefighting management, asserting that “there is no planning” in this area. He noted that the responsibilities do not lie solely with Luís Montenegro’s Executive.
“I don’t have a bitter or romantic view of the debate. I believe there was no debate at all. There were some spats, some political showmanship,” he initially remarked on his commentary space on CNN Portugal.
“But the truth is that a lot was said about the plan and little about execution. What needs to be done now is to address what happened, what burned, everything lost, and the path that needs to be taken,” he stated, indicating that the 25-year plan will come later, without implying that there should not be a future perspective.
Miguel Relvas brought up the State reform, which has been one of this Government’s key agendas: “We are addressing State reform. State reform should now be directed toward this area because a State that cannot respond to fires represents the absence of the State.”
The former minister in Pedro Passos Coelho’s Government emphasized that it is essential to understand which competencies need to be delegated to municipalities, which are “closer to the citizens, to the reality […]. And resources, naturally.”
Relvas also commented on the speech by the General Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, suggesting that he ascended to the podium with a “pompous air.”
“Sometimes, it would be positive if politicians had a compass in their pocket to know where they are and where they are going. His entire speech overlooked the fact that the PS has been in government for the past eight years,” he remarked, refusing to adopt a partisan discourse.
Acknowledging that “certainly the PSD has responsibilities,” given that “over the past years it has also served in office,” he stated: “Today’s reality shows we were not capable. Just travel the roads to see that those with forests lack resources, while those in cities have resources they then send to the forest. There’s not even a plan in place.”
Suggesting that resources could be allocated to high-risk areas weeks in advance for prevention, Miguel Relvas reiterated: “There is a lack of planning.”
Recall what was mentioned during the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic (AR) on fire fighting coordination in Portugal, which included Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s presence.
The debate on fire fighting coordination took place this Wednesday for about an hour and a half, as part of the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic. The session was attended by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, and also by the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, who did not intervene.
Other members of the Government were present, but the absence of the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, was noted and criticized by the PS leader, who said the situation demonstrated “the commitment” the Executive intended to establish.
In addition to the 25-year pact and criticisms about the lack of measures for firefighters among the 45 announced last week, the Government also heard opposition describe the management of the past month as “incompetent.”
At the beginning of the debate, the Prime Minister assured that he was “always in the field,” at the “helm,” and, at the end, reinforced this idea, stating that to act as such, he did not need to “wear a Civil Protection jacket.”
