Proença-a-Nova, Portugal, Feb. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - Amidst destroyed factories in Proença-a-Nova, presidential candidate António José Seguro heard warnings on Tuesday about "social unrest" following Storm Kristin and calls for attention to be paid to "the fine print" in government support.
After travelling to the area alone, António José Seguro was accompanied today, for the first time, by journalists on a visit to an affected area. He visited the Proença-a-Nova Business Park (PEPA) in Castelo Branco, where he saw and documented the damage caused by the bad weather.
Seguro spoke to journalists in front of a pavilion with a completely destroyed façade and holes in the roof, in an industrial area where the storm had caused extensive damage and where clean-up work was underway.
Accompanied by the mayor, João Lobo, and the Municipal Assembly, João Paulo Catarino, the PS-backed candidate heard a request from a furniture and interior design entrepreneur for government support.
Carlos Silva warned of the "small print" of the support announced on Sunday, saying "it's not as simple as they make it out to be," and asked the presidential candidate to pay attention.
"We want clarity on this type of support so we know what we can count on," said Seguro, and Carlos Silva added that he had already calculated €200,000 in direct losses, plus €300,000 in losses due to the halt in production.
In an unprotected scenario and amid memories of fires, unfavourable winds and forecasts of heavy rain for the coming days, João Paulo Catarino warned of the possibility of "social unrest".
"My fear is that if this continues, if the rain continues, if people continue to sleep in houses where it rains, this will lead to social unrest. People will become completely indignant. People cannot continue in these circumstances. This is absurd," stressed the former Secretary of State for Nature Conservation and Forests in António Costa's government.
Under leaky roofs and water where it shouldn't be, Seguro stressed that the key is to "get rid of the traditional bureaucracy", because "only those who don't know don't realise that there is an emergency".
Next door, a ceramics factory continued to operate despite the destruction, and to get there, the socialist had to enter through a side door and step on the remains of the roof, in a grey landscape marked by fallen trees. Alice Rodrigues, the unit manager, showed him the improvised offices.
Seguro navigated his way through newly manufactured crockery and improvised work areas, talking to the workers in a business that had been doubly affected by the storm, as the owner has several companies in the Leiria area, including metalworking and locksmithing, which were also affected.
The mayor of Proença-a-Nova, who estimated losses at €20 million, reminded Seguro of the tarpaulins donated the day before by the candidate for the Central region firefighter position, which were initially intended for campaign posters.
"There were six rolls that will be distributed equally between Castelo Branco, Proença-a-Nova and Sertã, the areas most affected," at a rate of 250 metres each, João Lobo told Seguro, explaining that in his municipality, they will go to two farms and a carpentry workshop.
The mayor also recalled the importance of cleaning forest land and paths, anticipating the fire season, something Seguro has advocated.
"We are very good at improvising, but phenomena of this nature require the opposite, that we organise our skills and our resources," he insisted.
On leaving, Alice Rodrigues pointed out that the candidate has not forgotten this area of the country.
"No, I haven't forgotten. I am from Beira, and that is very important to me," said the former PS leader, who had already promised journalists that he would return to these areas in the week of his inauguration if he wins.
JE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
