The constitution of the inquiry commission, requested by the PS — the largest opposition party (occupying 11 of the 47 seats in the Madeiran parliament) — was considered at the Conference of Party Representatives of the Legislative Assembly, which “gave 180 days for the completion of the work,” informed the president of the regional parliament.
“This commission will have nine members, with four from PSD, two from PS, two from JPP, and one from Chega,” added José Manuel Rodrigues after the meeting of parliamentary representatives.
The official added that the commission will be chaired by PS, and the vice-presidency will be assumed by PSD. It was agreed that the rapporteur will be the responsibility of the Social Democrats, and the secretary will be Socialist, a “position that was refused by JPP.”
“The fire inquiry commission takes office next Thursday at 3:00 PM,” he indicated.
A rural fire broke out on Madeira Island on August 14 in the mountains of Ribeira Brava municipality, progressively spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol, and Santana. On the 26th, after 13 days, the regional Civil Protection indicated that the fire was “totally extinguished.”
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System points to 5,104 hectares of burned area, although regional authorities have signaled 5,116.
According to the Madeiran executive, there is no record of injuries or destruction of essential public houses and infrastructure.
On September 5, the president of PS/Madeira, Paulo Cafôfo, announced that the party had requested a parliamentary commission, considering it “imperative to thoroughly investigate everything that happened from the beginning of the fire on August 14 until its extinction, declared on the 26th, scrutinizing all steps taken and the strategy and action followed by members of the Regional Government with responsibilities in civil protection matters.”
The Socialist leader stated that the rural fire management process “was marked by contradictions between political and operational leaders and by an evident lack of coordination in managing the fire fight.”
With the constitution of the inquiry commission, “in which government officials, as well as experts and technicians, should be heard,” the Socialists intend to “assess the acts practiced, directly or indirectly, by the Regional Government, the conditions, time, and terms in which the intervention was provided and determine the means used.”
The return of the Regional Government president, Social Democrat Miguel Albuquerque, to Porto Santo Island, after having traveled to Madeira for a day while the fire remained active, and the alleged delay in requesting reinforcement of aerial means to combat the fire are issues criticized by different political parties in the archipelago.
At the meeting of the Conference of Party Representatives of the Madeira Assembly, it was also decided to bring forward the resumption of plenary sessions, after the holiday break, from October 1 to September 24, with 13 meetings scheduled in the chamber next month.
According to José Manuel Rodrigues, “the first plenary sessions will take place on September 24, 25, and 26,” and 13 plenary sessions have been scheduled for October. The monthly debate with the Regional Government will occur on October 23.
