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Morocco’s response to the floods embarrasses the Portuguese government and sparks heated debate in parliament.
The way Morocco managed the repercussions of Storm “Leonardo” has ignited intense political discussion in the Portuguese parliament, as the Moroccan experience has become an embarrassing point of comparison for the government in Lisbon, in light of the widespread criticism of its performance during the recent flooding.
Opposition MPs and representatives from the most affected regions, particularly in Alentejo and Algarve, launched scathing criticisms of what they described as a clear delay in the authorities’ response, especially in the regions of Serpa and Alqueva, where the floodwaters unexpectedly inundated entire neighborhoods, resulting in ten fatalities—a scenario criticized as evidence of poor preparedness and coordination.
During charged parliamentary sessions, the Moroccan model was presented as an example of proactive crisis management. MPs questioned why Portuguese authorities failed to evacuate a few thousand residents in a timely manner, while Morocco successfully evacuated more than one hundred thousand people before the storm peaked.
Praise was not limited to internal discussions; international media outlets, including European agencies and news websites, highlighted the scale of the evacuation operation conducted by Moroccan authorities, describing it as one of the largest proactive evacuations in the region, covering the provinces of Larache, Ksar el Kebir, Sidi Kacem, and Sidi Slimane, without significant human casualties.
Spanish and European media reports noted that Morocco activated its emergency plans days before the storm intensified, mobilizing various stakeholders widely, while describing the Portuguese response as slow and delayed, which only heightened public anger and political pressure on the government.
These reports spotlighted the effective on-ground role played by the Royal Moroccan Army and local authorities, who managed to reach isolated areas and challenging villages using helicopters, boats, and jet skis, while also setting up temporary shelters and mobile kitchens to ensure the safety of those affected.
In Portugal, commentators and analysts concluded that the storm exposed deep-rooted flaws in the disaster management system, suggesting that the comparison with Morocco was not in the government’s favor, and reigniting concerns about preparedness and decision-making speed when lives are at stake.
Thus, a transient climate event transformed into a tough political test, delivering a clear message that disaster management is not measured by the size of the state or its geographical location, but by its ability to be prepared in advance and to make decisive choices at critical moments.
