“This initiative is a private one. It is not a government initiative of the Portuguese State. It does not have diplomatic coverage from the Portuguese State. Therefore, those who initiated this initiative knew they were taking these risks,” declared Luís Marques Mendes during a visit to Agroglobal at the National Center for Agricultural Exhibitions and Markets (CNEMA) in Santarém.
The former PSD leader lamented the attack but believed there was no place for a formal reaction from the Portuguese State.
“Obviously, if it was attacked, I regret it. I hope they can continue their objective. End of paragraph,” he emphasized.
When asked if Portugal should formally request explanations about the attack, Marques Mendes reminded that Portuguese diplomacy “had already stated that it is a private initiative,” also highlighting that the people who organized this trip did so “at their own risk.”
The attack occurred at night when a drone launched an incendiary device on the ‘Family Boat,’ a Portuguese-flagged vessel part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, causing a fire that was controlled by the crew and passengers on board, including activist Miguel Duarte.
The Global Sumud Flotilla confirmed that “one of the main boats, known as ‘Family Boat,'” flying the Portuguese flag, carrying members of the organization’s Steering Committee, “was hit by a drone” in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
Lusa | 02:13 – 09/09/2025
The coordinator of the Left Bloc, Mariana Mortágua, who is also participating in the mission, called for a reaction from the international community, emphasizing that “no attempt at intimidation will be successful.”
The coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE), Mariana Mortágua, today requested a reaction from the international community to the attack on the Portuguese-flagged boat part of the humanitarian flotilla, emphasizing that no intimidation attempt will succeed.
Lusa | 09:08 – 09/09/2025
During the visit to Agroglobal, Marques Mendes was also asked about the Elevator of Glory accident but refrained from making further statements on the subject, urging restraint.
“I will not speak more on this subject because I already spoke yesterday and the day before. I believe a candidate for President of the Republic and a President of the Republic should not speak more. They should be restrained,” he stated.
Marques Mendes expressed hope that “everything will be clarified” and that there will be “some serenity,” stressing that the causes of the accident are still unknown. “There is a part that has to do with the municipal election campaign. I do not get involved in that partisan issue,” he concluded.
