Marcelo: political responsibility to voters

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaks to journalists at Alto de São João, in Lisbon, and highlights four questions he encountered after reading the report on the tragedy at Elevador da Glória, released on Saturday by GPIAAF.

"The report provides a description based on the information currently available and is careful to point out that there are many questions and clues to be developed before the promised report is released in 45 days." He understands that it would be everyone's pleasure to shorten these deadlines (the final report will be published in a year), but that this would be complicated given that a "national and international contribution" is required to prepare the document.

Before addressing the questions that arose, he praises the work of the sole researcher responsible for this work and suggests strengthening the professionals in this area.

Looking at the report, he points out four observations:

1. “Why isn’t there an institution responsible for overseeing these types of matters?”;
2. “Why did the attachment point of a cabin on the cable come loose?”;
3. “Why doesn’t redundancy exist or why didn’t it work? When both systems were activated, neither worked;
4. With “visual inspection it was not possible to detect” any yielding in the cable.

The President of the Republic argues that "those who hold political office" are always "politically responsible for their performance," but "the problem is knowing how to do so." In Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa's view, the decision, in this context, rests with the voters.

"When someone is appointed, they are accountable to the person who appointed them. (...) In an elected office, the answer is to the voters. Political accountability is to the voters," he says.

Commenting on the release of the preliminary report, Marcelo believes that its conclusions do not allow "to determine the responsibilities of individuals or organizations." "It is not possible to determine that anyone, person, or institution, through their own fault, negligence, action, or omission, was responsible. At this time, that is not possible, and therefore we will have to wait" for the final report, he believes.

While admitting it's still too early to draw further conclusions, Marcelo admits he understood "the position of the President of Carris when he offered his position." "The simple fact that a public institution, in its operation, can cause consequences of this gravity, establishes subjective political responsibility."

In Póvoa de Varzim, Mariana Leitão, leader of the Liberal Initiative, said that the GPIAAF's preliminary report on the Elevador da Glória accident does not allow for political conclusions to be drawn from the case.

Although he admitted that he hasn't yet read the document in its entirety, he acknowledges that the details he's already seen "aren't sufficient to draw objective conclusions." "The report itself says exactly that. I think it's prudent to wait for the conclusions of the forensic investigations to know exactly what happened," he emphasizes.

Mariana Leitão says that future reports, and their conclusions, should serve to prevent "future tragedies."

“The political exploitation that is being made of the situation that is being made on top of a tragedy of this magnitude — at this stage, without yet knowing any conclusions, because [the exploitation] happened even before this preliminary report and even this preliminary report — is something that is not desirable.”

Mariana Leitão argues that it's "common sense" not to jump to conclusions. When asked by RTP whether this stance could be explained by the fact that IL is part of Carlos Moedas's candidacy for mayor, the party leader responded negatively. This stance "has exactly to do with the fact that we don't know what caused the accident, we don't know what political decisions may or may not have contributed to it," so any analysis, at this point, is premature, she believes.

"We like to work based on facts, concrete data, and concrete information. Right now, we don't have them, and therefore, any inference, any idea, or any position taken that isn't based on facts is premature and counterproductive. And that's not the way the liberal initiative should be."

Taking advantage of his presence at the Porto Book Fair, which ends this Sunday, José Luís Carneiro stands alongside Alexandra Leitão and does not agree with the speech of Pedro Nuno Santos, who has already called for Carlos Moedas' resignation, about the political consequences of the accident at the Elevador da Glória.

"I believe that Dr. Alexandra Leitão has been exemplary in managing this process," the party's Secretary-General stated, noting that the current PS candidate for Lisbon mayor respected the mourning period and, "after the mourning period," will be ready to discuss political responsibilities, in consultation with the municipal councilors. "That is the place" to "scrutinize the Mayor."

"The candidate demonstrated, and many people have recognized this, a great sense of responsibility in respecting a moment of seclusion, pain, and mourning."

Pedro Nuno leaves a warning to the PS: "There are, unfortunately, those who have become addicted to the praise of the right"

When questioned directly about his predecessor's request — which was also echoed by Eurico Brilhante Dias , the current parliamentary leader of the PS —, Carneiro recalled the “respect for the scrutiny of those who have their own election” and, in this sense, referred to the date of the local elections: “There is a scrutiny that will be held on October 12th”.

Carneiro emphasizes that "responsible parties" must fulfill their duties and respect the mourning period. "There is a time to determine responsibilities; investigations are underway. (...) We must wait for the investigations to conclude who is responsible."

In recent days, Pedro Nuno Santos has been sharing notes about this case on social media. While initially calling for Carlos Moedas' resignation, he returned to the fray on Saturday, this time delivering a message to the Socialist Party: "Unfortunately, there are those who have become addicted to the right's praise."

Good morning!

We're opening this article live here to follow the latest news about the accident involving the Elevador da Glória, the elevator that connects Restauradores to Bairro Alto, in Lisbon.

We recall that the GPIAAF's preliminary report was released on Saturday, which, although not conclusive, allows us to better understand what may have happened to cause the disaster that killed 16 people.

What does the evidence gathered say about the causes of the accident?