A week after severe weather conditions, over 200,000 people remain without power, and the European Civil Protection Plan has not been activated. The government has extended the state of calamity until February 8 to address the adverse weather expected from depression Leonardo, which will bring heavy rain, snow, strong winds, and rough seas to mainland Portugal.

PS secretary-general Carneiro has challenged the Government to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism immediately after Storm Kristin, sending Luís Montenegro a programme of measures to address the impacts. Civil Protection experts concede a late assessment of the disaster’s scale but say Portugal has not yet exhausted national response capacity; the question of requesting generators from abroad remains under study. Other centre-left parties, including the PCP of Santarém, describe government measures as too late and insufficient, warning that a disaster of this magnitude cannot be left to the goodwill of local communities alone.

PS secretary-general Carneiro has challenged the Government to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism immediately after Storm Kristin, sending Luís Montenegro a programme of measures to address the impacts. Civil Protection experts concede a late assessment of the disaster’s scale but say Portugal has not yet exhausted national response capacity; the question of requesting generators from abroad remains under study. Other centre-left parties, including the PCP of Santarém, describe government measures as too late and insufficient, warning that a disaster of this magnitude cannot be left to the goodwill of local communities alone.

The PSD delegation in the European Parliament has formally asked the European Commission which existing and potential instruments it can activate to assist areas of Portugal hit by Storm Kristin. PSD MEPs warned that material damage may be 'incalculable' and that conditions on the ground are worse than international reports indicate; President von der Leyen has pledged swift assistance. The delegation urged the Portuguese Government to be present in affected areas — to repair, care and listen — and called for a planned, not improvised, State response to the emergency.