“The Socialist Party opposes political maneuvering at a time when we are fighting fires that threaten people’s lives and property,” stated José Luís Carneiro.
The socialist leader, speaking to journalists in the city of Horta on the island of Faial, Azores, after visiting the local facilities of RTP/Azores, criticized the president of Chega for having gone “10 days without any reaction.”
On Monday, a source from the President of the Assembly of the Republic’s office announced that the conference of parliamentary leaders will meet on Wednesday to discuss Chega’s request for an urgent debate on the coordination of firefighting efforts with the presence of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Administration.
Today, the PCP Parliamentary Group requested an extraordinary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Assembly of the Republic with the presence of the Prime Minister to discuss the fires affecting the country.
José Luís Carneiro stated today that, at the leaders’ conference, the Socialist Party will vote against the requests.
“It is a vote against. When we are against, we must be consistent, which is a vote against what I consider an improper attempt at exploitation during an especially critical moment,” he justified.
He added that there will be a time to assess what “went well and what went less well” and that the Socialist Party has already presented “alternative proposals on how it could be done better.”
For the Socialist Party, “it’s incomprehensible that someone who was absent for 10 days has now discovered the need for a debate on how the combat is being conducted, because nothing from the debate will improve the response to the fires,” he said, referring to the leader of Chega.
“From my point of view, this proposal from a party far-right in parliament aims to surpass 10 days of absence. Moreover, the absence of a party that always appeared to demand accountability from previous governments and was silent for 10 days is incomprehensible. It is also surprising that they have asked the Minister of Internal Administration for accountability and not the Prime Minister,” declared José Luís Carneiro.
When questioned if the position of the Socialist Party is taken because the proposals were from PCP and Chega, he responded: “We believe it is an improper use […] we will not do to Dr. Luís Montenegro, nor will we say about Dr. Luís Montenegro, what Dr. Luís Montenegro said about Dr. António Costa and the Socialist Party when they were in government, regarding the fires.”
José Luís Carneiro reaffirmed that the Prime Minister should lead the political fight against the fires, “in terms of providing guidance,” therefore proposing the convening of the National Civil Protection Commission.
He also considers it important to know “why the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry has not spoken until now.”
“It is also expected that the Minister of Agriculture at least addresses the farmers, forest producers, companies dependent on these activities, to outline the government’s plans for support, especially regarding the restoration of agroforestry production,” he concluded.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, predominantly in the North and Center regions, against a backdrop of high temperatures which prompted the declaration of an alert status since August 2.
The fires have resulted in two fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor, and have destroyed or partially damaged primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
