Portugal's PS leader blames government for inadequate response to early‑year storms

Socialist Party secretary‑general José Luís Carneiro said the government was “desmazelado” – sloppy and incompetent – in its handling of the severe storms that hit Portugal in January and February 2026. He cited a nearly 100‑page report from the Presidency of the Republic that found the state’s response was late, insufficient and hampered by poor coordination, weak risk warnings, and gaps in telecom, energy and emergency communications.

Carneiro urged the administration of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to accelerate aid, clarify measures, and improve inter‑agency cooperation. He linked the storm‑response failures to earlier crises, including a nationwide power blackout and the major 2025 wildfires, saying they all demonstrated a pattern of governmental disarray. The presidential report also outlined ten priority actions, five of them immediate, and eleven strategic lessons for future crisis management. The PS emphasized that the cost of living, housing, and health care remain top priorities for the party.