Leiria criticizes the bureaucratic process of the emergency fund

The Mayor of Leiria, Gonçalo Lopes, criticized the complex application process for the Municipal Emergency Fund (FEM) aimed at repairing storm damage. He highlighted that the application form was only released in October, despite being announced in August, and described the process as bureaucratic and overwhelming for the municipality. The FEM allows municipalities to apply for up to 60% of verified damages, but Lopes argued that this support is insufficient given the extent of the destruction caused by storms earlier this year. He called for more agile procedures and emphasized the need for increased funding to assist affected areas. The storms resulted in significant casualties and extensive damage across Portugal, with losses exceeding five billion euros.