Former Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos, on Monday accused Lisbon’s Mayor Carlos Moedas of deceiving the people of Lisbon to secure their votes.
The controversy arises from Carlos Moedas’ refusal to resign following the derailment of the Elevador da Glória, which resulted in 16 fatalities and over 20 injuries, despite having called for the resignation of others, including his predecessor, Fernando Medina.
“Carlos Moedas did not understand that the recent discussion is not a battle between differing opinions, but about an accident that claimed 16 lives, political accountability, and the honesty of politicians who say one thing in opposition to obtain votes and do another when in power,” he stated in a Facebook post.
In an interview with SIC Notícias, Moedas rejected comparisons with Jorge Coelho, who resigned as Minister of Social Equipment after the collapse of the Entre-os-Rios bridge, arguing that the socialist was aware of the bridge’s vulnerabilities.
In the same interview, the mayor also accused his opponent in the municipal elections, Alexandra Leitão, of “politicizing” the tragedy of the Elevador da Glória.
For Pedro Nuno Santos, what “the Mayor of Lisbon said” in the interview “says nothing” about himself, Alexandra de Leitão, or Jorge Coelho, “but says a lot about himself, about his character, and also about his moderation.”
“Those who demand political responsibility are not disrespecting the victims or the families’ mourning; quite the opposite. Disrespecting the victims is using them to avoid discussing political responsibilities,” he argued.
Furthermore, Pedro Nuno Santos highlighted that “many people explain they do not call for Carlos Moedas’ resignation because they disagreed with the resignations or resignation demands of Fernando Medina, Jorge Coelho, or Marta Temido.”
“However, my point, at least, was never about that. None of them said in opposition what Carlos Moedas did, none of them were hostage to a particular understanding of assuming responsibility in the case of a ‘technical error,'” he added.
The former PS Secretary considered that “we do a poor service to democracy when we devalue the importance of a politician’s word” and “degrade the quality of our democracy when we consider it normal for politicians to say whatever it takes to win elections.”
“Carlos Moedas deceived the people of Lisbon for their votes and it is also for this reason that he should be defeated on October 12,” he declared.
It should be noted that the Elevador da Glória, located in central Lisbon, derailed at 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday on Calçada da Glória. The accident resulted in 16 fatalities and over 20 injuries.
On Friday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) revealed that “the nationalities of the 16 deceased victims are confirmed” in the accident, being “scientifically identified with the collaboration of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences.”
Of the deceased, there are five Portuguese, two South Koreans, one Swiss, three British, two Canadians, one Ukrainian, one American, and one French.
