As this story goes up online two government ministers are meeting with mayors of greater Lisbon to analyse the riots that have taken place since PSP police shot dead a Cape Verdean father-of-two in Cova da Moura in the early hours of Monday.
Minister for the presidency António Leitão Amaro, and interior minister Margarida Blasco face the Lisbon Metropolitan Council, which is made up of mayors from the 18 municipalities that make up the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML): Alcochete, Almada, Amadora, Barreiro, Cascais, Lisbon, Loures, Mafra, Moita, Montijo, Odivelas, Oeiras, Palmela, Seixal, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Sintra and Vila Franca de Xira.
Yesterday, prime minister Luís Montenegro, promised to step up measures to contain the rioting, refusing to “condone violence” and “disrespect for public order”.
“The security forces have been very competent in containing this wave of violence, but if we eventually have to tighten that containment, we’ll have to do it,” he said, speaking to journalists outside the Portuguese-Spanish Business Forum in Faro.
Also yesterday, the Lisbon Metropolitan Council president, Basílio Horta, called the use of violence following the “tragedy” of Odair Moniz’s death “unacceptable”, emphasising that he is “unequivocally” on the side of the security forces in restoring public tranquillity.
Also mayor of Sintra, Basílio Horta referred to the need to “ascertain responsibility” for this death, through investigations that are already underway – and then determine “what is going to be done about it”.
PSP deputy national director Pedro Gouveia faced the cameras yesterday, reaffirming the force’s “zero tolerance for any act of disorder and destruction practised by criminal groups who, intent on challenging the authority of the state and disturbing the security of communities, carry out or have been carrying out the actions that journalists have witnessed”.
President Marcelo has also renewed his appeal for ‘calm’, saying he hopes the apparent calming of incidents verified last night is a sign that people are taking notice of the appeals to stand down.
Source: LUSA/ SIC
