Latest news and stories about severe weather in Alcácer do Sal, Setúbal, Portugal for expats and residents.
Residents of Alcácer do Sal have recounted distress from recent floods as authorities install housing blocks for displaced people, Correio da Manhã reports. Local services are providing temporary accommodation while recovery and damage assessments continue. Those in the affected area should contact the municipality for assistance and check insurance or emergency support options.
President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa urged starting discussions on a national disaster fund during a visit to flood-hit Alcácer do Sal, saying Portugal lacks a dedicated fund while other countries and the EU have one. He praised local leaders and volunteers, and said worsening storms make planning for collective responses sensible. Residents in flood-prone areas should monitor any proposed fund for details on eligibility and compensation mechanisms.
Update: Marcelo presses government during flood tour
Multiple outlets report the president used a visit to Alcácer do Sal to press the Government and propose a new disaster fund, saying Portugal should follow EU peers that already have such mechanisms. Observador and ECO noted the visit praised local officials and volunteers while also pushing for formal talks on how a fund would work.
Electoral Mandate and Democratic Consensus:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was elected President of Portugal on January 24, 2016, winning 52.0% of the vote in the first round—a decisive victory in a fragmented field. He campaigned as an independent, positioning himself as a unifying figure after years of austerity from Portugal's 2011–14 bailout, promising to repair political divisions and restore national confidence. His campaign emphasized moderation and cross-party consensus, a departure from his decades-long association with the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD). Upon taking office on March 9, 2016, he suspended his party membership for the duration of his presidency.
His 2021 re-election proved extraordinary: Rebelo de Sousa secured 60.7% of the vote—the third-highest margin in Portuguese presidential electoral history since the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Historically, he became the first candidate ever to win in all 308 municipalities and the vast majority of parishes, ranging from 51.3% in Beja District to 72.16% in Madeira. This unprecedented sweep reflected his broad appeal across social, geographic, and ideological divides.
Constitutional Role and Crisis Leadership:
Portugal operates as a semi-presidential system where the president, while largely ceremonial, exercises meaningful influence over national security, foreign policy, and military affairs as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Rebelo de Sousa leveraged this authority during Portugal's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, he requested parliamentary authorization for a state of emergency—the first nationwide declaration in 46 years of democratic history—to contain the crisis. He voluntarily quarantined after potential COVID-19 exposure in March 2020, and later tested positive in January 2021 while remaining asymptomatic. His measured handling of the pandemic, balancing public health with institutional continuity, contributed to his landslide 2021 re-election.
Diplomatic Engagement and International Presence:
Rebelo de Sousa has conducted extensive state visits representing Portugal's interests across diverse regions: the Vatican, Spain, Mozambique, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Cuba, the United Kingdom, Greece, the United States, and Angola. A notable diplomatic highlight occurred in 2019 when he joined President Emmanuel Macron at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, representing European military cooperation and the European Intervention Initiative. These engagements positioned Portugal as an active participant in global affairs, particularly regarding colonial history and Atlantic security partnerships.
Colonial Legacy and Historical Accountability:
During his presidency, Rebelo de Sousa has publicly supported making restitution and acknowledging abuses committed during Portugal's colonial history and the country's role in the Atlantic slave trade. This position marked a significant policy shift, as Portugal historically avoided confronting its imperial past compared to other European powers. His stance reflected evolving attitudes within Portuguese society toward historical accountability.
Controversies and Public Criticism:
Rebelo de Sousa's presidency has not been without controversy. In 2023, allegations emerged that he had intervened to expedite treatment for Brazilian twins with Zolgensma, an expensive rare disease medication, raising questions about presidential influence and potential corruption. These claims implicated his son and generated criticism across Portuguese political and media sectors. Additionally, in April 2024, Rebelo de Sousa made controversial remarks comparing the speed of Prime Ministers António Costa and Luís Montenegro using orientalist language that drew public rebuke. In August 2025, he called U.S. President Donald Trump a "Russian asset" at a PSD event, demonstrating his willingness to make provocative foreign policy statements.
Constitutional Constraints and Legacy:
Under Portugal's constitution, Rebelo de Sousa is barred from running for a third consecutive term, meaning his presidency concludes with elections scheduled for January 18, 2026. His decade-long tenure has established him as one of Portugal's most popular recent heads of state, characterized by broad consensus-building and institutional stability. Whether future presidents can replicate his cross-party appeal remains an open question for Portuguese democracy as it enters a new era.
A permanent disaster fund is a government reserve set aside to pay for emergency relief, repairs and reconstruction after natural catastrophes so money is available quickly rather than through ad‑hoc budget measures. Portugal’s government has proposed creating such a fund after recent storms to speed help to affected families and municipalities and to reduce reliance on one-off emergency allocations. Residents, insurers and local councils should follow the legislation because it will change how and when compensation and repair money is released.
The President of the Republic (Presidente da República) is Portugal's head of state, elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term, renewable once. The role is largely ceremonial but carries significant reserve powers that become crucial during political crises.
Key presidential powers include: appointing the Prime Minister (based on election results and parliamentary consultations), dissolving the Assembly of the Republic and calling new elections, vetoing legislation (which parliament can override), referring laws to the Constitutional Court, and declaring states of emergency.
The President also represents Portugal internationally, serves as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and plays a moderating role in political disputes. António José Seguro has served as President since March 2026, following the two-round presidential election in January 2026.
Authorities in Alcácer do Sal report a 'brutal' and rapid rise in the Sado river's flow but say the situation remains under control. Civil Protection is monitoring conditions, has evacuation plans ready should riverside areas flood, and expects the flow to rise slightly more before beginning a slower fall from around 04:00—timing that will depend on further rainfall and dam management decisions. Updates will hinge on precipitation forecasts and operational releases from upstream infrastructure.
In a formal request addressed to the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, the Social Democrats state it is important to “ensure proper scrutiny” of the Government's response to damages caused by the bad weather.
The PSD Parliamentary Group asks the Government to identify the programmes, measures, or support instruments activated in the wake of the severe weather.
For the PCP secretary-general, in terms of consequences, the President of the Republic's initiative “had the advantage of ending up publicly exposing the contradictions.”
Carlos Moia, executive president of the Benfica Foundation, says that the association joined 'the big ones' to help people who lost everything in the floods in Alcácer do Sal.
The Minister of Environment announced two million euros to rehabilitate Alcácer do Sal, one of the municipalities most affected by the floods.
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) has identified over 200 million euros in damages to riverside infrastructure across the country, caused by the succession of storms and floods this winter. On Tuesday, the Minister of Environment announced approximately 5 million euros in investments specifically for the municipalities of Alcácer do Sal and Mértola.
An unannounced visit precedes the President's first 'Open Presidency', which will take place in the Central region, the area most affected by the severe weather.
António José Seguro's visit to Alcácer do Sal, a municipality heavily affected by the February storms, was not previously announced.
António José Seguro met with the Mayor following the floods in February. Furthermore, local officials state they do not have sufficient funds to pay school staff.
The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, visited Alcácer do Sal this morning to check on-site the status of the recovery works following the bad weather that hit the municipality in February.
This visit, which was not previously announced, was made public through a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic this afternoon, with António José Seguro thanking “everyone for the effort and resilience shown” and leaving “a word of hope”.
Business owners are using their savings as the aid has not arrived.
First part of the 'Investigação CM' from March 24th on CMTV.
Second part of the 'Investigação CM' from March 24th on CMTV.
The damages caused by the bad weather in Alcácer do Sal have already reached 107 million euros, with the majority, around 80 million, relating to municipal equipment, revealed the deputy mayor, António Grilo, today.
The damages caused by the bad weather in Alcácer do Sal have already reached 107 million euros, with the majority, around 80 million, relating to municipal equipment, revealed the deputy mayor, António Grilo, today.
The damages caused by bad weather in Alcácer do Sal have already reached 107 million euros, with the majority, around 80 million, relating to municipal equipment, revealed the deputy mayor, António Grilo, this Friday. 'Of these 107 million that we have calculated, about 80 million relate to the municipality of Alcácer, essentially...'
Of the total amount, 12.5 million euros in losses have been accounted for so far in commerce and services, while damage to state infrastructure is estimated to be around 10 million euros.
The president of the APA explained that worsening weather conditions necessitated preventive management of reservoirs, justifying releases from dams.
The president of the Portuguese Environment Agency explained that the worsening weather conditions until next Saturday necessitated preventive management of the reservoirs.
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) announced on Thursday, March 19, that it has been performing preventive discharges at dams to mitigate flood risks in Alcácer do Sal, Setúbal district, due to the low-pressure system Therese. APA president José Pimenta Machado stated that worsening weather conditions necessitated proactive reservoir management, noting that soil saturation levels are high. Authorities have been preparing reservoirs, particularly Santa Clara, Pego do Altar, and Vale do Gaio, to accommodate additional water volume. APA is also monitoring the Sado River tide peak to prevent potential flooding, with officials expressing confidence that the situation is being managed effectively despite ongoing rainfall.
Storm Therese, which began affecting the weather in mainland Portugal on Tuesday, will have a greater impact on the Centre and South, with occasionally heavy showers.
The mayor denounces delays in support for the reconstruction of the municipality affected by the floods. Additionally, André Ventura accuses the Prime Minister of using distraction tactics.
Alcácer do Sal experienced the “largest flood on record” in the municipality. Residents, shopkeepers, and fishermen saw their homes and businesses affected. In addition to insurance, they are awaiting “quick” support from the Government.
Establishments are beginning to return to normal after the storms that affected the region.
The President of the Republic offered support to the victims, including business owners, and urged insurance companies to expedite their processes.
The clinic owner reports that the water reached over two metres in height.
