Lisbon,Aug 15, 2025 (Lusa) - Presidential candidate Henrique Gouveia e Melo accused politicians on Friday of being in a bubble of cynicism in the face of the "terror" of the fires, trying to buy time and evade responsibility.
On the official Facebook page of his candidacy for Belém, Gouveia e Melo says he is "shocked and incredulous" at the stance of some politicians who, "oblivious to the terror experienced by the population, maintain their agendas in a bubble of cynicism in the face of suffering".
"If they can't prevent or remedy it, at the very least they should be on the side of the people in their suffering," the candidate said, admitting that he has spent the last few days glued to the television, overwhelmed by the images of the fire devouring the country.
In the publication, Gouveia e Melo refused to accept the argument that talking about fires is political exploitation or that "only after the fight can we discuss" the wave of fires ravaging the country.
This position was taken today after the prime minister, Luis Montenegro, said on Thursday, in a speech at the Festa do Pontal, that he would not assess the fight against the fires, because the country is "in the middle of a war and it's not in the middle of a war" that such a discussion takes place.
"Let's win the war first, save the people, our heritage, our country and we'll be here to do even better in the future," he said.
"These are mere pretexts to buy time and try to diminish responsibility," Gouveia e Melo wrote today, warning that "sticking our heads in the sand, postponing what is difficult to resolve and managing media agendas may not be the best solution."
Gouveia e Melo's criticism also extended to those in other parts of the country who "toast their holidays and take smiling photos at summer political events", in a "disrespect that undermines trust in democracy".
For the presiden candidate, "a true leader", even when he can't do more, "is up front with his people, showing that he doesn't hide from the responsibilities he's asked to take on".
On the contrary, what happens in the country year after year, he argues, is that "memory fades" and prevention, planning and structural investment "are left off the agenda", he concludes in the publication in which he expresses his gratitude to the military firefighters, police officers, doctors and nurses involved in the fires and to the people who help fight them.
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