Party throws in its lot behind communities battling throughout north and centre
PAN’s spokeswoman Inês Sousa Real has today demanded the suspension of lithium explorations, the repeal of the environmental and urban planning Simplex (that has given hugely unpopular plans such an easy ride under the outgoing government) and real consultation of populations.
Her arguments hone in on the inconvenient truth that “discontent is reflected in anti-democratic populist votes” (hence why the country’s reviled ‘populist party’ appears to resonate with so many potential voters).
“For PAN, the suspension (of lithium explorations) must be the way forward”, said Sousa Real. “A new reassessment must be made, safeguarding the interests of the population, but also the environmental damage that is at stake,” she touched on another ‘raw nerve’ in this debate.
For PAN’s figurehead, lithium explorations are, in certain cases, due to take place “in areas of natural protection and with high ecological values“. There is “the route of the Iberian wolf itself” – and so much more, as the nation’s media has been reporting.
“It is essential to suspend the projects that are currently underway” and “ensure that the environmental assessment takes into account not only economic issues, but also the mitigation of the ecological footprint” (in other words, there needs to be a real assessment of the wealth that will be lost if mining/ large scale photovoltaic and wind parks move forwards).
Inês Sousa Real referred to the “absolutely irreversible environmental damage” that so many of these projects are expected to cause.
What is the point of “a destruction of natural values” in the “pseudo-energy transition (…) which we know often doesn’t respect the criteria and environmental damage that could and should be avoided,” she went on.
It is in this sense – and for the “cumulative effects that these plans are having” that PAN feels “that the environmental Simplex and the urban Simplex should be repealed“.
These new laws – so prized by the outgoing prime minister for allowing investment in Portugal/ attracting foreign companies – are more tailored to economic interests of those taking advantage of the country than the populations that live here. “There is even a touristic dimension that is often jeopardized by this type of project,” said Ms Sousa Real
The “fundamental aspect” is that “people have not been heard in these processes as they should be” – on the one hand, because the times for public consultation have been “too short”; “on the other, we also know that citizen participation has not been listened to, which somehow generates frustration in the population and even discontent which, we know, is having its return, which is the voting for anti-democratic populist forces.
“If we want to restore democracy and restore the value of citizen participation, this involves listening to populations when they say ‘no’ to these types of projects”.
Ms Sousa Real said exactly what citizens groups that find themselves battling against megalomaniac plans have been saying for months/ years. ND
Source material: LUSA
