The leader of Chega, André Ventura, announced on Sunday that he will urgently call the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, to the Assembly of the Republic and request the dismissal of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaral.
“The Prime Minister does not understand that he cannot have a minister who ignores what is happening, leaves mayors alone, and can say ‘let’s go’ while disregarding the questions being asked about the people’s suffering…”, he stated in remarks to SIC Notícias.
The controversy arose after the Minister of Internal Affairs made a national statement on Sunday afternoon, announcing the extension of the alert status for an additional 48 hours, until Tuesday. However, at the end of the conference, when asked if she had “words for the mayors,” she stood up and said “let’s go” to the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha.
“Chega has reached its limit and will urgently call the Assembly of the Republic and ask the Prime Minister to dismiss the Minister of Internal Affairs”, André Ventura added.
“Vamos embora”.
Mais uma conferência do Governo sem direito a perguntas. pic.twitter.com/FyLtKgNXfX— Diogo Teles Mateus (@diogotelsmateus) August 17, 2025
The leader considered that the country is witnessing the limit of reasonableness and that “it has reached a point where there is no sense of prudence or responsibility” and, therefore, “the only solution” is to dismiss the Minister of Internal Affairs.
“We need a Minister of Internal Affairs who is on the ground, alongside operational teams and helpers”, he emphasized.
Regarding the appeal from the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, for Luís Montenegro to “quickly convene” the National Civil Protection Commission, André Ventura remarked that doing so “will not solve anything” and that “the Government must govern”.
This Sunday, José Luís Carneiro stated that convening the National Civil Protection Commission would ensure “political command” in the fight against the scourge of forest fires.
“My appeal is a serious one, for the Prime Minister to quickly convene the National Civil Protection Commission to ensure political coordination and assume the political command of the fight against this scourge facing many of our local communities”, said José Luís Carneiro to Lusa agency by phone from the Azorean municipality of Lajes do Pico, where he is currently.
The Secretary-General of PS, José Luís Carneiro, today called on the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, to “quickly convene” the National Civil Protection Commission to ensure “political command” in the fight against the scourge of forest fires.
Lusa | 20:51 – 17/08/2025
According to the Secretary-General of PS, in that National Civil Protection Commission “everyone who can contribute should be present to resume effective coordination and, simultaneously, mobilize various ministries, to provide a sense of security to the populations, particularly those who have been left without living conditions”.
It should be noted that the country has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions, in a context of high temperatures that triggered the alert status, now in effect until Tuesday.
The fires caused two deaths and several injuries, mostly minor, and completely or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
The two fatalities are the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, in the municipality of Guarda, and a firefighter from the Covilhã brigade.
