Spending much of this summer diving in lesser-known beauty spots of the country – most of them in areas last year devastated by wildfires – President Marcelo is also keeping up with all the issues of the day, both here and abroad.
Today, for example, he is “subscribing to the words” of French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who is promoting “the necessity of Europe taking care of its own safety as the United States takes a step back”, just as he is pushing for a rapid investigation to get to the bottom of allegations that up to half a million euros has erroneously gone to ‘rebuild’ houses that were not even damaged in last summer’s wildfires (click here).
The issue of fraud in the ‘rebuilding’ programme for Pedrógão Grande has been aired by various news sources all summer, but up till now very little in the way of official investigation seems to have moved forwards.
Indeed the mayor and council in question have dismissed the allegations as ‘sour grapes’.
For Marcelo, however, the subject is yet another situation that threatens to undermine nationals’ confidence in the integrity of Portuguese institutions.
“There cannot be doubts over the way money donated by Portuguese people is used”, he told journalists as he stood stripped to the waist in swimming trunks, preparing for yet another convivial dip.
“Portuguese people are generous”, the president said, adding that he has no doubt they will go on being so “but they cannot be left with doubts”.
Thus answers must come, and they must come fast.
“I hope they will not be answers that come in years’ time”, he concluded as the caravan of photographers with wet shoes moved on to snap further ‘relaxed moments’ of the country’s head of state as he enjoys the simple pleasures afforded by the interior’s picturesque river beaches.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
