Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD) said on Tuesday that he will not accept lessons on emigration and immigration “from anyone”, highlighting his personal experience on the matter, and reiterating that Portugal needs a dignified immigration policy.
“I was an emigrant, I married an immigrant, my father-in-law is Moroccan, my mother-in-law is Tunisian, so there is something I want to make very clear: I do not accept lessons from anyone in this matter, from anyone.”declared Carlos Moedas at the Lisbon City Council meeting.
In presenting the activities of the College of Mayor and Aldermen over the past three months, between November and January, the Social Democratic mayor said that Portugal “needs immigrants”, starting with the departure “a very sincere, very deep condolences for the tragic passing of two people” in a fire in a building near Mouraria, in the parish of Santa Maria Maior, which occurred on February 4.
“Although the investigation is still ongoing, unfortunately we know that these dramas are happening and have taken place in our city. We all remember several of these dramas and it is good that we remember, […] because we need to change things. I remember, perfectly, still in July 2021, also on Rua Morais Soares, when two people lost their lives “indicated Carlos Moedas.
The mayor confirmed that he knows “emigration and immigration in the first person, like few in Portugal”and argued that “the country needs a dignified immigration policy”.
“What we have today in Portugal is not dignified and I will fight for that. I will fight precisely as a politician for this dignity of our immigration, precisely because I know it, precisely because I want that to change and because it is. ” a challenge for everyone”he declared.
In this regard, the mayor asked the councilors for Housing, Filipa Roseta (PSD), for Human and Social Rights, Sofia Athayde (CDS-PP), and for Civil Protection, Ângelo Pereira (PSD), “to meet as soon as possible. with the SEF [Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras]”, to work together, to find “solutions for all”.
Carlos Moedas also called on all presidents of parish councils to participate in the necessary response, as these mayors are “essential in the role they play in the proximity of all these communities”.
The Social Democrat stressed that immigrant communities are “welcome, they are Lisbonrs” and that the municipality will “fight for them, but with dignity”.
Source: DN
