The Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, addressed the tragic accident involving the Elevador da Glória, which resulted in 16 fatalities and over 20 injuries. During his first interview about the incident, he stated he would resign if any political error on his part is proven.
“If someone proves that an action I took, or something I did as mayor, was responsible for this company not spending enough on maintenance, and that it failed to do what it had to do, I will resign immediately,” he asserted on SIC Notícias, noting that he is not actively managing Carris.
This interview sparked reactions across the political spectrum.
The leader of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, was among the first to respond. He accused Carlos Moedas of “evading responsibility” over the Elevador da Glória accident and criticized him for “insulting” socialists such as Alexandra Leitão, Pedro Nuno Santos, and Eurico Brilhante Dias, even “daring to offend the memory of Jorge Coelho, which no political situation can justify.”
Carneiro further stated that “not everything is acceptable” and that the “PS demands explanations, determination of responsibilities, and respect for others” following the tragic accident.
“Anyone listening to Moedas would think he was the accident’s first victim”
Alexandra Leitão, leading the PS/Livre/BE/PAN coalition in the upcoming Lisbon municipal elections, echoed this sentiment.
“Carlos Moedas has returned to personal attacks. He knows no other way of doing politics. Anyone listening to him would think that the first victim of the tragic Elevador da Glória accident was himself. It was not. It was the deceased, the injured, and their families. His interview on SIC was an undignified exercise in self-exculpation for a political leader. It brought no answers, presented no solutions, and announced no measures to help the victims or restore the confidence of Lisbon’s citizens in the city’s infrastructure,” wrote the former Minister of State Modernization and Public Administration.
Carlos Moedas voltou ao ataque pessoal. Não sabe fazer política de outra forma.
Quem o oiça acha que a primeira vítima do trágico acidente no Elevador da Glória foi ele próprio. Não foi. Foram os mortos, os feridos e as suas famílias.
A entrevista que deu à SIC é um exercício de…— Alexandra Leitão (@Alexandrarfl) September 7, 2025
Eurico Brilhante Dias also commented on social media, stating, “Save at least Jorge Coelho,” while deeming it “intolerable, unworthy, and insulting” that Carlos Moedas refused to compare the Elevador da Glória tragedy to the Entre-os-Rios bridge collapse. In that case, the former Socialist minister resigned after being informed of maintenance issues with the bridge. Moedas assured that no such information was conveyed to him regarding the elevator that led to the disaster.
Pelo menos que se salve o Jorge Coelho. https://t.co/PzYtY6MZvH
— Eurico BRILHANTE DIAS (@BrilhanteDias) September 7, 2025
The sentiment was shared by Left Bloc (BE) councilor Ricardo Moreira, who expressed his views on platform X and retweeted comments like: “Tell me a day when Carlos Moedas hasn’t publicly victimized himself due to criticism of his (poor) work.”
Carlos Moedas chose a “calmer and respectful” approach
In contrast, Assunção Cristas of the CDS-PP defended Carlos Moedas’ stance in the Elevador da Glória derailment case.
The former Lisbon councilwoman opined on SIC Notícias that the mayor acted correctly by being present and adopting a “more serene and respectful” stance towards the victims of the derailment.
“I would be very surprised if Carlos Moedas came here and said ‘I’ll leave, I’ll turn my back’. Assuming responsibility means saying what he said: ‘I won’t rest until everything is properly explained,'” she explained.
The former Minister of Agriculture, Sea, Environment, and Spatial Planning emphasized that it is “natural and positive” for officials to feel the need to resign and considered it equally positive “to indicate that together we must find solutions.”
Assunção Cristas predicted ongoing “technical-legal” discussions concerning liability for the tragedy, asserting that politically, the “matters are quite justified and clear.”
It is noteworthy that prior to Carlos Moedas’ interview on SIC Notícias, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, acknowledged the mayor’s “political responsibility” regarding the Elevador da Glória accident, yet deemed it illogical to call for a resignation just one month before local elections.
The Lisbon City Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, September 8, to discuss the Elevador da Glória derailment. This meeting, called by the mayor, has been dedicated solely to this incident.
The extraordinary meeting will commence at 9:30 AM, as stated by RTP, and will be closed to the media. Topics will include support measures for victims and their families, and determining the causes and responsibilities.
