“I want Portugal to become a proactive country, a nation that anticipates problems before they arise, so that they never occur. Or if they do, we should know exactly how to respond, making our response more effective and efficient,” he stated.
Upon entering a meeting with the association Akto – Human Rights and Democracy in Coimbra, Jorge Pinto lamented the death of an elderly couple in Fernão Ferro, whose home was flooded due to heavy overnight rain.
The couple’s death occurred on the same day he visited Arganil’s Fire Brigade to discuss fires “at a time when they are not happening.”
“So that we can discuss these extreme weather events at other times of the year,” he added.
The presidential candidate stressed the need for “planning, preparation, and readiness” in Portugal to address and prepare for the increasingly frequent extreme phenomena.
“We know well that governments, usually the current administration, tends to govern in the short term, focusing on the next electoral cycle. However, the President of the Republic must also have a distinctive voice, which is to ensure that the country is discussed in the medium and long term,” he highlighted.
Jorge Pinto argued that planning, preparation, and readiness involve all stakeholders, including both civil protection services and citizens, who should know how to act in case of extreme events.
“For example, they should have emergency kits at home and a support network within their neighborhood to help prevent tragic situations like the one we experienced today,” he indicated.
In his view, this can be achieved through training and prevention actions among the population, taking cues from other European countries that already have emergency kits with non-perishable food for a couple of days, potable water, and a battery-powered radio, but more importantly, through “a change in mentality” in a country that is “highly reactive.”
“Portugal must know how to adapt to climate change, how to adapt to the increase in the number and intensity of these extreme phenomena, whether it be floods, storms, or forest fires. This evidently requires additional resources, providing better conditions for those on the front lines, like the firefighters I visited this morning, but it also entails a cultural shift in policy-making and in how we involve people,” he concluded.
Presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026.
