Excessive zeal? “We cannot answer only when there is a disgrace”

O minister of Internal Affairs today refused that there was excessive zeal in preventing storm Charles, arguing that the country must be proactive, instead of responding only “when there is disgrace”.

Luis Neves spoke to journalists at the end of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which takes place at the official residence of the Prime Minister in São Bento, since 9:30.

Asked if, in the face of the slowdown of weather forecasts, he considers that there has been excessive zeal, the minister responded negatively, categorically.

“No. Here's the question of defending people, the country, physical integrity, people's lives, I think we should all be happy that we start working with proactivity. Proactivity gives us peace of mind, a rest, which otherwise we would never be able to respond”, he said.

Luís Neves considered that today can be considered “an exercise” for other extreme phenomena that will be increasingly frequent.

“ These moments are also relevant to create trust, team spirit, each knowing what it can do, each knowing what it can count, to detect some fragility and that we can correct it in time ", said.

The Minister expressed full confidence in the IPMA forecasts and was very pleased with the measures taken by the Government and its proactivity work.

“ We have to stop being reactive. We cannot answer to the people, to the people, to our fellow citizens, only when there is a disgrace. Reactivity has very large costs and has a higher cost, besides people's lives, it has the cost that is distrust in institutions ", he said.

After the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Government Operations Centre (CorGov), a kind of crisis office, coordinated by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, will continue to meet in São Bento.

Continental Portugal is now on alert until 11:59 p.m. due to the depression Charles, which caused about 200 occurrences of Madeira last night, mainly floods, falls from trees and collapses.

The government decided to close non-essential schools and public services in all districts, and more than three hundred flights were cancelled in Lisbon, Faro, Madeira and Porto.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which issued several red warnings due to rain and wind, depression changed its characteristics and on its way to the continent, this morning, there is a reduction in the intensity of wind and gusts. There's still a lot of rain ahead.

During the night the Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula were the most affected areas, especially with floods, but the Faro district is the only one that keeps red warnings for both rain and wind.