Lisbon Mayor Moedas and Socialist Rival Clash Over Gloria Funicular Tragedy in Heated Political Exchange

Political Tensions Rise in Lisbon

Socialist candidate Alexandra Leitão, leading the PS/Livre/BE/PAN coalition for the upcoming Lisbon municipal elections, has accused current mayor Carlos Moedas of engaging in personal attacks rather than constructive politics. This comes in response to Moedas' recent interview on SIC, where he expressed hurt over the political exploitation of the tragic Gloria Funicular accident.

In a post on social media platform X, Leitão stated, "Carlos Moedas returned to personal attack. He doesn't know how to do politics any other way. Listening to him, one would think the first victim of the tragic accident was himself. It wasn't. It was the dead, the injured, and their families."

Moedas had criticized the Socialist Party for being "dissimulated," alleging that while their candidate doesn't directly call for his resignation, they orchestrate attacks through supporters. He differentiated between the centrist PS led by José Luís Carneiro and the more radical Lisbon branch, calling Leitão's approach "very cynical and dissimulated."

Leitão countered, describing Moedas' interview as "an exercise in blame-shifting unworthy of a political leader." She emphasized that he "brought no answers, presented no solutions, and announced not a single measure to help victims or restore Lisbon residents' trust in city infrastructure."

Despite the tragedy, which resulted in 16 deaths and 22 injuries—including nationals from Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland, the UK, Canada, Ukraine, the USA, and France—Leitão has refrained from demanding resignations. Instead, she insists on "full clarification and assumption of responsibilities," referencing a 2021 incident where Moedas called for the resignation of then-mayor Fernando Medina over data sharing.

The opposition, including PS, PCP, BE, Livre, and Cidadãos Por Lisboa, holds Moedas as the "top political responsible" for municipal company Carris, which manages the funicular. A special meeting is scheduled for Monday to discuss support for victims, investigation of causes, and accountability measures. Proposals from PS councilors include a memorial, a victim support office, and an external audit commission.

National and municipal mourning days have been declared, highlighting the gravity of the incident. The Gloria Funicular, a 265-meter route popular with tourists, remains a focal point in Lisbon's ongoing political and safety debates.