What happened in the Elevador da Glória and the political reactions

While I was sleeping…

…Carlos Moedas' interview with SIC regarding the Elevador da Glória accident was still generating reactions. The mayor of Lisbon, who faces elections in October, was answering journalists' questions for the first time, saying: "No one leaves here. No one resigns. It's cowardly. I won't let it happen. We're here to face reality." Neither Carlos Moedas, nor his deputy Filipe Anacoreta Correia, nor the president of Carris, Pedro Bogas, who resigned the night of the accident, were present. Filipe Anacoreta Correia, who is not part of Moedas' future team, also took the bullet: "Political responsibilities must be held against me," he declared over the weekend. For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, it is Carlos Moedas who should be held politically responsible.

• But Carlos Moedas remains under fire from the opposition. There are two factions within the Socialist Party. Leader José Luís Carneiro's faction has not called for the current mayor's resignation, and Alexandra Leitão, a candidate for the same local government, has followed suit. But Pedro Nuno Santos, the former Socialist leader from the same political wing within Leitão's Socialist Party, has been the loudest voice in this resignation call. Carlos Moedas has no doubts: it's Alexandra Leitão's cynicism. "It revolts me greatly to see certain political parties, either directly or covertly, politicize the tragedy. This is the case with the Socialist Party of Lisbon. They have a candidate who doesn't come forward to ask for my resignation, but then tasks all her henchmen [with asking for my resignation]. It was very cynical, covert, and that revolts me in politics." José Luís Carneiro wasn't pleased to hear this.
• Beyond the political war, the causes of the accident continue to be investigated . The initial report from the Aircraft and Railway Accident Prevention and Investigation Office (GPIAAF) indicates that the cable connecting the two cabins of the Glória elevator gave way at its attachment point , in an area that cannot be seen without disassembly. The brakeman did everything in his power to brake the elevator, but the system is unable to stop the unit in a critical situation. It all happened in about 50 seconds and at a speed of 60 km/h. Sixteen people died.

Luís Montenegro's statements to the Transparency Entity were in the news again. The information the prime minister requested to be withheld—arguing that it was private data—remains available. But if the request to withhold information from all statements is granted, scrutiny of real estate transactions will become more difficult.

In Ukraine, Russia has attacked Kyiv again . " Putin is testing the world , " Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said after the attack, with Trump once again discussing sanctions against Russia. Observador journalists Rui Pedro Antunes and João Porfírio, who were in Ukraine, share in this Monday's "History of the Day " what it's like to live in a country at war. In the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen insists on transforming Ukraine into a "steel porcupine" on land, sea, and air, with European support. Continue following the latest developments in the War in Ukraine.

The President of the European Commission will, this Wednesday, September 10, address the State of the Union, this after France voted today on the vote of confidence that should bring down (once again) the French government, now led by François Bayrou who declared about his imminent fall: "there are worse things in life."

In Argentina, the Peronists defeated the Libertarians in the elections for the municipal assembly of the province of Buenos Aires (the capital itself was not in the running). This was a heavy defeat for President Javier Milei's party—following the corruption investigations into his sister . Milei has already stated that this defeat will not stop him from implementing his economic measures; it may even lead to an acceleration of them. In October, there are midterm elections for Congress, where Milei is in the minority. This Sunday, 14 million people were called to the polls.

It's already Saturday, but this newsletter couldn't help but mention Portugal's 22nd victory in the European roller hockey championship . Against France. Played in Paredes. Sports aren't just about football—but in football, the national team is currently in the running for qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and after Saturday's 5-0 victory over Armenia , they face the (more difficult) Hungary in Budapest this Tuesday.

In the United States, Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open again and rose to number one in the rankings. He defeated Italian Jannik Sinner to win his second US Open and sixth Grand Slam title of his career. In the stands, Donald Trump was simultaneously cheered and booed.

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