Lisbon, Portugal – José Luís Carneiro, the Secretary-General of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), has sharply criticized the current government’s response to recent severe weather events, alleging a lack of “sensitivity, and effectiveness.” Carneiro’s remarks, made during an interview with RTP on Wednesday, come as the country grapples with widespread damage and economic losses estimated at one billion euros in the agricultural sector alone.
According to Carneiro, local authorities have voiced complaints regarding the government’s slow response in restoring essential services like electricity and infrastructure. While the government has mobilized approximately 40 million euros in aid, Carneiro deemed the 10,000 euro assistance offered to families for home repairs “insufficient” to meet the scale of the needs. The PS proposes a tiered system where families could cover up to ten percent of their previous year’s income above the initial 10,000 euro grant, with the state covering any remaining costs. “These measures fall within the perimeter of state support,” Carneiro asserted.
The criticism follows the recent resignation of Maria Lúcia Amaral from her position as Minister of Internal Administration, a role Carneiro described as “one of the most difficult in the Government,” emphasizing the importance of political experience for the position.
Carneiro also expressed cautious approval of the appointment of Paulo Fernandes to lead the reconstruction efforts, noting his “proven ability to execute public policies.” However, he raised concerns about internal divisions within the government regarding financial support for recovery. He highlighted conflicting statements from the Minister of Economy, who advocated for increased aid, and the Minister of Finance, who reportedly took a more cautious stance. “I saw the Government with two positions and therefore it will be very key the position and clarification by the Prime Minister,” Carneiro stated.
The PS leader indicated his party is prepared to support measures ensuring adequate assistance to affected families, workers, businesses, and local authorities. He stressed the need for the government to clarify its financial position, adding, “We looked at the public accounts and from the beginning we understood that the Government needed to clarify these accounts.”
Carneiro leveled a strong accusation against the government, claiming it is prioritizing collaboration with the Chega party and its leader, André Ventura, over dialogue with the Socialist Party. He accused the government of “impreparatory politics” and a deliberate unwillingness to engage with the opposition. “The Government has shown that it does not want to dialogue with the Socialist Party and has opted for Chega and Dr. André Ventura,” he said. He warned that the Prime Minister “cannot and should not ignore the Socialist Party,” emphasizing the PS’s long-standing role in Portuguese democracy since 1976.
Carneiro attributed this perceived disregard to “insensitivity” and “arrogance,” suggesting that certain factions within the government are intentionally seeking to align with Chega. As of Thursday, the Prime Minister’s office has not issued a public response to Carneiro’s accusations.
