Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo, speaking to journalists in Peniche before a Campus da Liberdade 2025 event organized by Instituto +Liberdade, emphasized the need for accountability following the completion of an inquiry, urging that it should not be unduly prolonged. “Responsibilities may include criminal, negligence, or political aspects related to the management priorities within Carris,” he stated.
The presidential candidate for next year’s elections warned against a “witch hunt,” especially with upcoming elections, advising against using such inquiries for political gain. “We must not forget or leave this case unresolved,” he stressed, calling for a thorough investigation.
“What happened was totally anomalous, and we must discover why and address the issue thoroughly. However, we should avoid rushing into conclusions without knowing what transpired exactly. Investigations should be impartial yet efficient,” he added.
Gouveia e Melo criticized Portugal’s tendency towards improvisation, attributing failures often to poor planning and a lack of responsibility. He advocated for a system that holds political entities accountable. “Drawing direct lines from an incident to a political dismissal is simplistic,” he argued, while emphasizing the need for actor accountability.
The candidate pointed to apparent failures that demand concrete answers. “We should avoid hastening to blame and force resolutions that may not be genuine solutions to yet-to-be-identified problems,” he argued.
The Glória Elevator in Lisbon derailed on Wednesday, resulting in 16 fatalities and 23 injuries. The government declared a national day of mourning for Thursday, while Lisbon’s city council announced three days of municipal mourning lasting from Thursday to Saturday.
The elevator, operated by Carris and linking Restauradores to Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto over a 265-meter route, is a popular tourist attraction.
