The prime minister warned today that the declaration of a state of emergency will not have a "salvific effect" and, if all goes for the best, the Covid-19 pandemic will peak in mid-April and could end in late May.
António Costa ended the brief debate in the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic that preceded the approval of the draft declaration of a state of emergency sent by the President of the Republic to Parliament.
Stressing the Government's "unequivocal institutional loyalty" to the head of state in this matter, the prime minister admitted that this instrument could allow the executive to "do more and better, but warned that there is no emergency decree that has a salvific effect. to resolve the pandemic crisis'.
“The worst thing we can do is to break the bond of trust, solidarity and credibility with our citizens and that bond is broken when citizens do not feel that we are here to do everything necessary, but also when they understand that we are make promises that are later frustrated,” he said.
In this sense, Costa defended that it is necessary to « frankly tell the Portuguese » that, probably, within 15 days, when it is necessary to renew the state of emergency, there will be «more infected people and more deaths».
The prime minister reiterated that "democracy will not be suspended" with the declaration of a state of emergency and that, as soon as it enters into force, the Attorney General's Office "should function permanently to control legality" and the Ombudsman's Office for “protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees”.
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