Marcelo stands by MAI, stating that recent arrivals are still in the process of understanding the organization
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of Portugal, has expressed his support for a multi-faceted approach to strengthen wildfire management following a series of tragic fires that have caused loss of life and significant damage.
In his statements, the President acknowledged the desire of the public for immediate answers regarding the wildfires and emphasized the importance of finding a system to integrate lessons learned into the fight against wildfires. He noted that there are already many lessons to learn from past wildfires.
One of the key proposals put forth by the President is the push for harsher penalties for arsonists. The government, with presidential backing, is advocating for tougher legal consequences for incendiary crimes, treating wildfires as high-priority offenses due to the significant community harm they cause.
Another initiative is the revival of the Forest Intervention Plan (2025–2050), a comprehensive plan developed with input from experts and public and private stakeholders. The plan includes 61 short-term actions for the year 2025 and 88 medium-term initiatives through 2050, aimed at improving forest management and wildfire prevention.
The government has also invested €16 million to purchase two fire suppression kits for C-130 aircraft, enhancing aerial firefighting capabilities.
The President is also scheduled to engage with firefighters’ proposals aimed at improving Portugal’s firefighting system, indicating a willingness to incorporate frontline insights into policy reforms.
Authorities have emphasized the need for continued public cooperation alongside the mobilization of all available firefighting resources to protect lives and property during critical periods.
These changes come amid a worsening wildfire situation driven by climate change, rural depopulation, and human activities, which experts note as the underlying causes of repeated severe wildfire seasons in Portugal.
The President has also attended the wake of a firefighter who died in a traffic accident on his way to a fire, affirming that the death of Carlos Dâmaso is a "symbol of that solidarity." He spoke about the death of the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, describing Portugal as a country composed of a particularly solidarity people.
The President did not make any new statements regarding reflections and changes regarding wildfires or the controversy involving the Government. However, he did mention that he faced more violent criticism at the beginning of his term compared to recent years and shared his experience as President of the Republic, emphasizing the importance of social communication and providing explanations.
In conclusion, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa supports a multi-faceted approach involving legal, operational, technological, and community engagement strategies to strengthen wildfire management following recent tragedies.
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