LIsbon furnicular crash: should politicians be held to account?
After the Elevador de Glória funicular crashed in Lisbon leaving 16 people dead, the city's mayor Carlos Moedas is facing fierce criticism. Four years ago, following a political scandal during his predecessor Fernando Medina's term of office, Moedas had demanded that politicians also assume responsibility for incidents that are not directly related to their actions.
Someone must bear the responsibility
Correio da Manhã calls for consequences, be they political or criminal:
“We know, of course, that accidents happen and are not always due to negligence. But there is an intolerable pattern. No one is ever really held accountable. There are commissions, inquiries, investigations, even court proceedings, but those responsible, acting on behalf of the state or large public service concessionaires, always get off scot-free. ... The investigations must produce results. And if negligence or a criminal act was the cause, then someone, whether it's a person or an institution, must be held accountable.”
Don't jump to conclusions
The city's mayor is under pressure on two counts because he himself set the bar high under his predecessor, Jornal de Notícias points out:
“For now, he must remain in office. To ensure full support for the victims and their families and to contribute to the swift clarification of what happened with the Elevador da Glória. Only then, once responsibility has been ascertained, can we assess whether his dismissal is warranted. Let's not jump to conclusions. The problem is that this Carlos Moedas is the very same man who called for the resignation of then mayor Fernando Medina in the case of the transfer of data on Putin opponents living in Lisbon to the Russian government.”
A wake-up call for everyone
This accident should also give other tourist hotspots pause for thought, warns Protagon:
“It's a matter of collective responsibility to keep a historic means of transport that is still in use safe, modern and functional. Routine maintenance is not enough; investment, transparency and the political will to make changes are needed. ... The accident may have happened in Portugal, but overall and taking into account the many parameters it affects us all. Especially countries that are popular tourist destinations and are overwhelmed by the masses of visitors. How certain is it that the old infrastructure of certain historic sites can withstand the strain of intensive, continuous use?”