Fernando Leal da Costa was heard by the President of the Republic, in a round of hearings of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to personalities linked to the area of health.
At the end of the meeting the former minister (PSD) told journalists that there were measures that needed to be taken, such as wearing a mask or social distancing, but that there were others that were difficult to take because "the legislative framework in force in Portugal is not the most appropriate for public health emergencies.
"Although we have a new public health law the legislators over this time have not yet been able to find the formula that allows sufficient flexibility and speed to solve public health emergencies like the one we are experiencing. And so it will probably be better at the right time to declare a state of emergency again," he said.
A state of emergency that "gives the government the legislative capacity to take the measures it eventually has to take, when it has to take them", he justified.
In the words of the former minister, the overall legislative framework is not "flexible enough and malleable" to take the necessary measures "only through government legislation", without the need for legislative authorisations, so governments are often "forced" to seek legislation from other areas, such as civil protection or the environment, to legislate on public health.
The current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said, is an "excellent opportunity for legislators to think about it".
What a load of rubbish, its all becoming pear shaped for the government. At the recent State sponsored Portuguese Formula 1 Grand Prix, thousands of people without face masks , zero social distancing and when it comes to the general populous living their daily lives slap them with potential fines of 100 to 500 Euros ???!!!!! What is this lunacy ! The People are fast losing faith in their authorities because of the double standards and sloppy haphazard fear based rules and regulations throw left right and centre for what in essence is just another flu season.
Time to rise up against this idiocracy !
By Jonas Stone from Lisbon on 28 Oct 2020, 11:56
I agree with Mr Jonas Stone ..this is nonsense..they not going to pay our expenses . who is going to put food on our table? who is going to feed our children ? .this is utterly rubbish ..a war will soon break out .if they don't stop with this..
By maria from Algarve on 28 Oct 2020, 18:32
Indeed. Also, whatever remains of small businesses will be nothing after another lockdown. The most enterprising & interesting shops are closing and those working in mundane and administrative / bureaucratic jobs are being paid stable salaries. What a tragedy!
By Johnny from Lisbon on 28 Oct 2020, 20:43
It is done in a coordinated and deliberate way. Billions for large corporations who then simply lay off hundreds if not thousands of people while the small entrepreneur is immediately directed towards bankruptcy. Any money for healtcare?
By Pedro from Lisbon on 29 Oct 2020, 14:20