Confederation of Portuguese Farmers accuses government of abandoning the sector

The Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP) has accused the government of Luís Montenegro of breaking trust and abandoning the agricultural sector. In an editorial, CAP Secretary-General Luís Mira stated that the current executive reached power with the explicit support of the sector but has failed to provide adequate responses to ongoing crises.

Key grievances include the lack of a national intervention body for forest fires and natural disasters, despite European Union proposals for integrated management mechanisms. Additionally, the CAP highlighted the impact of rising fuel prices, noting that the government's support of 10 cents per liter is insufficient.

The confederation also drew comparisons to Spain, noting that the Spanish government has implemented multiple support packages since March, including a 650 million euro supplement for fertilizers. In contrast, the CAP pointed out that Portugal's fertilizer support was significantly lower at 20 million euros, and criticized the government for not utilizing available EU funds.