Civil Protection law may remain dry and unaltered, according to PS's hopes for no rain or other wet weather in its revision.
In the heart of Portugal, the country has been grappling with a series of major rural fires since July, primarily affecting the North and Center regions. The fires have resulted in tragic consequences, with four deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries reported. Around 252,000 hectares have burned in the country by August 29, according to provisional official data.
Amidst this crisis, the Government of AD announced the end of civil governments. However, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, has assured the public that the Government will evaluate what went wrong in due time and correct any issues if necessary.
In a bid to strengthen the country's emergency response, Rui Rocha also announced the Government's plan to revise the organic law of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) by the end of the year. This move comes after the work done since 2017 has been recognised as a good system by national authorities and various international authorities, including those responsible for the European Civil Protection system.
However, concerns have been raised about potential hasty changes in the Civil Protection issue. José Luís Carneiro, the socialist leader, spoke to journalists in Ribeira de Pena, Vila Real, and suggested that returning to civil governments could be understandable but warned about the importance of careful consideration. One such concern is the proposed change from sub-regional commands to district commands, which Carneiro considers a form of hastiness.
The proposals that the government has not brought to the elections come primarily from expert commissions and ministers, such as the pension commission, which is supposed to present reform suggestions by 2027, and individual politicians like Economic Minister Katherina Reiche who proposed raising the retirement age to 70. However, these proposals have not been advanced to elections due to the coalition's priority of maintaining current policies and fear of political controversy.
The revised ANEPC law is expected to come into effect from next year. As the country continues to battle the fires, the Government's focus remains on ensuring the safety of its citizens and addressing the challenges faced during this crisis.
Meanwhile, the fires have left a trail of destruction, with homes, agricultural and livestock operations, and forest areas being severely affected. The President of the Chamber, João Noronha, presented his re-election candidacy during the event, expressing his commitment to rebuilding and recovery efforts.
As Portugal navigates through these challenging times, the Government's commitment to learning from past crises, such as those in 2003, 2005, and 2027, and implementing necessary changes to its emergency response system offers hope for a safer and more resilient future.
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