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Home Affairs Minister resigns over mishandling of Portugal's deadly fires

ConstancaSousaThe Minister of Internal Administration, Constança Urbano de Sousa, has offered her resignation which was accepted by the Prime Minister who said the minister asked him to accept her offer as it would 'preserve her personal dignity' - hence, he could not refuse to accept it.

Constança Urbano de Sousa leaves office followed by a trail of black smoke after a summer of fires including two where citizens lost their lives: July 17th at Pedrógão Grande, (65) and last weekend in the north and central regions during which 41 people are known to have perished. The Interior Ministry is in charge of firefighters, the police and civil protection agency, all of which faced sharp criticism after the fires.

The minister also had problems with the police service and latterly the Foreign and Borders Service but her downfall was due to the fires and the two reports commissioned into who was responsible for the Pedrógão Grande fires.

The professionalism of the National Civil Protection Authority has been called into question due to the poorly coordinated response and the appointment of a cadre of new commanders who lacked relevant experience.

She offered to resign shortly after the Pedrógão Grande fires but the PM kept her on. But today, the minister said in her resignation letter that after the fires of recent days "I considered that I didn't have the political and personal conditions to continue in my post."

Despite criticism of his performance, the Authority’s national commander, Rui Esteves, remained in office, only resigning in mid-September due to a controversy over his qualifications.

Last night’s speech by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, made it clear that a ‘new cycle’ was needed which involved cleaning out those responsible for the fires and the poorly coordinated responses.

The resignation of the minister for Internal Administration is the first high-profile head to roll and for the prime minister to maintain some semblance of knowing what he is doing, he needs to pack the tumbril with inefficient managers and fill the basket with their heads.

The PM has been told to restore public confidence in the State’s primary role of keeping its citizens safe - whatever the cost.  Hopefully, Constança Urbano de Sousa’s resignation is just the start of this process.

The current deputy minister Eduardo Cabrita will replace Constança Urbano de Sousa, according to a statement released this afternoon by the prime minister's office.

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Comments  

+3 #6 Peter Booker 2017-10-19 10:46
The resignation of Urbano de Sousa is a high profile event, but how can it change anything? I suspect that Cabrita is equally culpable, but in the line of command, where do you stop firing people? I suspect that Urbano de Sousa´s resignation is an example of a public servant taking the blame for the failings of private contractors.

The culture of government and the emergency services needs to change, and culture change in a continuing organisation requires a high level of managerial expertise. The government should employ a firm of consultants or an academic with experience in this type of re-engineering.

This consultant might begin with an amalgamation of GNR and PSP (and possibly the other police organisations as well); and then analyse the fire-fighting experience of those in charge of the Civil Protection Authority.

And the details of the contracts between government and emergency service contractors should be published. It is no defence to say that commercial considerations require that they continue to be secret.
+3 #5 Transit 2017-10-19 09:05
Being a party apparatchik she will be moved sideways into a well paid government non job to ensure she doesn't suffer financially for her total lack of acumen in her previous position, she will then lie low until her incompetency is conveniently forgotten by the powers that be then she'll then be reinstated to create mayhem in some other department, in politics the saying, "it's who you know not what you know", really comes into its own.
+3 #4 Steve.O 2017-10-18 21:35
Certainly Portugal has competent individuals but all the higher posts in Portuguese Public Administration are filled by Party Political people. Or camp followers. Being competent, effective and honest guarantees you nothing except a short career in that line of work. We only hear of someone being shaken out of a political appointment when someone from another party allegiance questions their qualifications! Which, time and again, are found to be faked.
The EU has been urging higher standards for years but when will we see in Portuguese Public Administration obvious evidence of interviewing and competence tests?
+3 #3 Neil M 2017-10-18 21:27
This Government needs leadership, someone who can give direction, take advice and be responsible for his action. Mr Costa will need to consider his position, as he has a duty of care to the people of this country and he has failed in this respect.
+6 #2 Richard 2 2017-10-18 19:13
OK, one less parasite. What are the chances that she will be replaced with someone competent and not just more nepotism or political convenience?
+4 #1 nogin the nog 2017-10-18 17:32
hmm.
I hope she is made to attend the funerals of all those who perished while she mouthed off. As for the rest of the parasites left in office. Government should be like any other business and individuals should be held accountable for there actions , or in this and many other cases there lack of action..

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