Portugal's President António José Seguro urges faster aid and better coordination after storm damage

President António José Seguro said the extreme weather storms that hit Portugal early this year have left many families, businesses and communities still facing a prolonged crisis. During an open‑presidency tour of the central region from 6‑10 April, he gathered input from locals and produced a near‑100‑page report.

He warned that the response has been hampered by slow assistance, unclear measures and poor coordination among authorities. The report calls for accelerated support, clearer responsibility, reinforced critical infrastructure and fixes to vulnerabilities in telecoms, energy supply, accessibility and emergency communications. It also points to weaknesses in warning, command and coordination structures, though it praised the adaptability of local responders.

Secure says the state must pair improvisation with better planning, institutional preparation and a stronger culture of responsibility to ensure the country enters high‑risk months more securely.