With government ministers discussing ‘next steps’ in the country’s response to ‘untold damages’ wreaked in the north and centre by Storm Kristin, commentators have not held back. Editorials have been scathing over the perceived lack of preparedness – in spite of the storm having been well forecast, with all the necessary scientific knowledge of the power it was going to pack.
“But the government reacted to Kristin with its trousers in its hand. The confusion that followed, with the video of self promotion, and the visit to lament damaged planes was all energy that would have been more useful in the days leading up to the tragedy”, writes Correio da Manhã’s society editor Sérgio A Vitorino. (The video of self-promotion was a supreme ‘own goal’ by the administration.‘Taken down’ from social networks as soon as the ‘outcry’ began, it featured the ‘minister of the presidency’ António Leitão Amaro – the minister who repeats government mantras as if he means to hypnotise his audience – ‘on the telephone’; sending text messages and chewing his nails, accompanied by a ‘dramatic’ soundtrack).
“Once again planning and prevention” were missing”, Vitorino continues – and as for the Minister of Interior Administration’s ‘process of learning’, he likened it to the “electrocardiogram of a corpse”.
No matter what comes out of the Council of Ministers today (and there will be an announcement), it won’t change the country’s response failings; it won’t put roofs miraculously back on homes overnight, nor restore the power that is still missing in thousands of homes. It won’t erase the criticism of the last few days, or stop the looting of businesses and properties left open to the elements – and it definitely won’t stop the deluges expected through the week, nor the likelihood of floods.
“Once again Portugal has shown that it wasn’t prepared”, writes CM’s executive director Paulo João Santos. “It never is. We see this in the wildfires; we saw it in the blackout. Studies are undertaken; solutions are promised, but it is always the same. It is not acceptable to leave so many people without electricity, without water, without communications, without help, isolated, forgotten, for so many days. It is all too slow, very slow…”
Santos likens the executive’s response to ‘the outbreak of a war in which the army stays in its barracks”.
The Council of Ministers has been in its “crisis management meeting’ since 10am this morning. Prime minister Luís Montenegro has promised a statement when it comes to an end.
Source material: Correio da Manhã
