"There is political responsibility" in the great fire of Monchique, "in everything that precedes the fire, in the months before, in the inability to organize the organizations that have the obligation to competently fight the fires," today accused Rui Rio, president of the PSD, on your visit to Monchique.
The national leader of the Social Democrats, in statements to journalists after a meeting lasting several hours, behind closed doors, with the mayor of Monchique, deputies and other political leaders, said that "there was a range of means of combat here such as there will never have been in the history of Portugal”, but then there was a “complete inability to articulate these means”.
Rui Rio even considers that "there ended up being too many means, given the inability to articulate".
According to the president of the PSD, the issue is that “over the years, the forest and the terrain has not been properly prepared. What should have been done was not done for this not to happen. It happened 15 years ago and it happened again».
"Particularly in the last year, after Pedrógão and precisely because Monchique was signed, what should have been done to prevent what happened was not done."
Asked by journalists whether he was also criticizing the previous PSD/CDS government, the social democrat leader denied it, saying that one of the first measures of the current executive was to change all the commands of the Civil Protection.
Rui Rio also referred to the GNR's alleged “exaggerations” in the removal of people from areas in danger, speaking of “abuses in the treatment of people” that were reported to him at the meeting he held this afternoon in Monchique.
Admitting that this happened "in the anxiety of not having deaths", therefore with a "noble objective", he considered that "people also have to be treated with dignity".
As for the fact that only now, 20 days after the fire ended, he is visiting the most affected municipality, Monchique, Rui Rio said that “the PSD president does not speak, but he does not speak! , it kills it on fire, people suffering” because it “respects people”.
"When it's burning, the PSD only doesn't help if it can't, doesn't oppose," he guaranteed. "Clear as water, it's my way of being and it doesn't change!"
“After things are over, we are then in a position to take stock. Speak without knowledge of the facts, no! Talking about the event is not!».
And what is the opinion of the leader of the main opposition party regarding the measures to support populations, forestry producers and farmers already announced by the Government?
Rui Rio replied that the issue is not in the measures – “no government announces measures that are not good” – but in their application. The question is: “from now on, once the measures are announced, what will be the consequence and the form of action in the field”.
"Will the affected people or not, be able to see the support more effectively, faster and fairer than what is happening in relation to 2017?", he asked.
After having been together for more than three hours with Rui André, social-democrat mayor of Monchique, Rui Rio and his entourage also visited the arbutus growers and agricultural cooperative in the village, and then went on to Alferce.
Photos: Nuno Costa | Sul Informação
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