The PSD/Algarve considers that «the popular saying “do what I say, don't do what I do” fits like a glove to the position of the Socialist Party deputies elected by the Algarve on the tourism project of Praia Grande, Silves».
In a statement, the Algarvian social democrats criticize that socialist parliamentarians Miguel Freitas and João Soares are only “a few weeks late regarding the government's initiative to request the Portuguese Environment Agency for an opinion on the subjection of the project to an environmental impact study, even though the law does not require it." have come public to say that "it is necessary to clarify the existence of a real commitment on the part of the Government to this project, taking into account the need to ensure all conditions of environmental protection in that area".
The PSD/Algarve contests that “the deputies elected by the PS intend to suddenly appear in the eyes of the Algarve dressed as convinced environmentalists and the first defenders of Lagoa dos Salgados when the development of the detailed plan that legitimizes the undertaking dates back to the times of the government of Eng. José Sócrates».
On the other hand, stresses the Social-Democratic District, "we do not remember that [PS parliamentarians] have ever expressed any concern in this regard."
The PSD even recalls, in its communiqué, that the Detailed Plan for Praia Grande was approved in 2007 and «until then, the PS had the opportunity to promote the classification of Lagoa dos Salgados as a protected and integrated area of the Natura 2000 Network. However, it did nothing in that sense».
“Wouldn't it be before demanding the PS deputies to clarify for us the reasons why they never took the initiative to obtain the status of a protected area for Lagoa dos Salgados?”, ask the social democrats.
Because, they consider, «once again it is demonstrated that the PS presents itself to the Algarve with two faces»: as the Government «it never seemed to him that the environmental balance of Lagoa dos Salgados was threatened by the emergence of an undertaking that is not legally subject to the environmental impact study. In opposition, despite knowing that the current government had already done it, it takes the populist initiative to demand from others what it never imposed on itself».
"We expected greater wisdom from the biggest opposition party," says the PSD.
The PSD/Algarve, which says it will continue to monitor the process without “demagogic alarms”, welcomes “the government's initiative of wanting to subject the project to an environmental impact study, which was also recommended by the group of parliamentary groups of the PSD and CDS/PP in the Assembly of the Republic during the month of November».
Despite this alleged intention of the Government, which, through the Secretary of State for the Environment and Spatial Planning, asked the APA for an opinion on the 'relevance' of carrying out an environmental impact study, the truth is that there is still no decision on whether the EIA goes ahead or not.
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