Delays in forming an independent commission to assess the impact of Portugal’s devastating 2025 wildfires are stemming from universities and polytechnic institutes, not from Parliament, the country’s new President António José Seguro revealed Tuesday.
Speaking from the village of Mourísia, which was heavily impacted by the fires, Seguro publicly questioned the pace of the commission’s formation, initially directing criticism toward Parliament. Whereas, a statement from the President of the Assembly of the Republic clarified that Parliament had already submitted its nominations.
The holdup, officials said, lies with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities and the Coordinating Council of Polytechnic Institutes, which are responsible for naming four experts to the 12-member panel. Those appointments have yet to be made.
According to a proposal approved by the Socialist Party (PS) late last year, the commission will be comprised of 12 technical specialists – both national and international – with expertise in areas including civil protection, forest fire prevention, climate science, and risk analysis. Four members were to be designated by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, following consultation with parliamentary groups, a step that has been completed. Four more were to be nominated by the National Association of Municipalities and the National Association of Parishes, which have also fulfilled their obligations.
The final four members, and ultimately the commission’s president, are to be selected by the university and polytechnic councils. The President of the Assembly of the Republic will finalize the appointments once those selections are made. “We continue to await the designations from the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities and the Coordinating Council of Polytechnic Institutes,” a spokesperson for the Assembly stated.
Seguro’s remarks came during a visit to Mourísia, in the municipality of Arganil, a village that has become a symbol of resilience after being ravaged by flames in 2025. He used the opportunity to highlight the stark reality of burned landscapes and to urge quicker government support for affected communities.
“In August there were fires. Parliament approved a law to create an independent technical commission. That law came into effect in January. It’s now March and that commission still does not have all 12 members to begin functioning. And within a few months we will again have summer and a potential season of fires,” Seguro warned.
The commission was approved with support from the PSD, CDS, Livre, PAN, and JPP parties, with abstentions from the PCP and opposition from Chega and IL. It is intended to produce a report with conclusions and recommendations within 60 days of its formation, with a possible 30-day extension. The move underscores the urgency of addressing Portugal’s ongoing wildfire challenges.
