Prime minister Luís Montenegro spoke to the country tonight, announcing immediate help to populations affected by the recent storms (Kristin and Leonardo).
The government is extending the ‘situation of calamity’ – already decreed for 68 municipalities – until Sunday February 15, but there are no plans to delay the final round of the presidential elections.
The PM’s speech was more focused on what the government means to do for populations whose lives have been turned upside down in the last week.
He began by appealing to everyone to “rigorously follow all recommendations by authorities” and not to underestimate risks – particularly in areas that are currently affected by rising river levels.
Regarding financial help that the government announced earlier this week, 12 mobile teams will be travelling to areas still without power to help people access the relevant website and make their claims.
Around 275 ‘Citizens spaces’ will also be available to help people take advantage of apoiscalamidade.gov.pt so that money can start flowing from February 9.
The weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers also came up with an “exceptional and experimental regime” designed to “accelerate urgent repairs and the reconstruction of homes, dispensing with the usual prior administrative controls”, said the PM.
This regime will apply to work considered ‘urgent’ in areas worst affected – allowing them to be done immediately, without the ‘bureaucratic procedures that normally precede interventions of this type’.
Mr Montenegro stressed that the state is “putting all its trust in municipalities”, populations and businesses that will be involved. Any of these found violating established rules “will be made accountable”, even if at a much later date. In other words, the ‘bar is open, but checks will be made eventually to make sure everyone follows the rules’.
As for the second round of the presidential elections scheduled for next Sunday, these will be going ahead (with a few exceptions) and the PM appealed for voters to ‘exercise their democratic rights’.
“Regardless of the weather on Sunday, choosing the nation’s highest magistrate and deciding the future of Portugal is a task, an honour, a duty and a right,’ he said, exhorting people’s ‘spirit of willingness and sacrifice’ so that they do not delegate to others a choice that they should make themselves.
When it comes to finding workers to repair the multiple storm damages, Mr Montenegro said the state is willing to release workers from public projects. “We are available to suspend some works if the companies and workers are available to give their services”, he said.
At the same time, the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) will begin gathering information on labour requirements from local authorities and construction companies.
There is even the possibility of recruiting from abroad.
Source: SIC Notícias
