Portuguese Government Approves 45-Point Plan to Support Wildfire Victims, Including Housing Reconstruction Aid
The Portuguese government has officially approved a package of 45 distinct measures designed to provide relief to the populations affected by the extensive wildfires in the North and Central regions of the country. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced the plan following a Council of Ministers meeting in Viseu, confirming that the support will target families, homes, and businesses impacted by the fires since July, which have resulted in three fatalities and significant material damage. A key component of the government's response is direct financial assistance for the reconstruction of homes. The measure specifically addresses both primary and secondary residences that have been totally or partially destroyed, aiming to help property owners rebuild. This particular aid is part of a broader set of initiatives intended to restore normalcy to the affected communities. The government has also outlined several economic support mechanisms for local businesses. These include the possibility of total or partial exemption from social security contributions and an extension of deadlines for fulfilling fiscal and contributory obligations. The goal is to alleviate financial pressure on companies and agricultural operations that have suffered losses. In addition to property and business aid, the plan encompasses social support, such as the provision of psychosocial counseling for victims and the free dispensing of necessary medications through the National Health Service (SNS). These measures acknowledge the human toll of the disaster beyond the material destruction. During the press conference, the Prime Minister emphasized the urgent and exceptional nature of the support package. The measures were detailed in a communiqué from the Council of Ministers, which was released to the public on Friday. The government also announced it has drafted a separate bill, which will be sent to the Assembly of the Republic for approval, to establish further complementary and urgent support actions. Alongside the immediate relief efforts, a long-term strategic initiative named the “Floresta 2050, Futuro + Verde” (Forest 2050, Future + Green) plan was also approved. This plan, which will also be submitted to parliament, proposes an average annual investment of 246 million euros through 2050. The stated objectives of this long-range plan are to reinforce fire prevention strategies, increase the economic value of forest resources, resolve land ownership ambiguities, and improve the overall governance model for the forestry sector. The recent wave of fires has not only caused loss of life, including one firefighter, but has also destroyed a significant number of homes and devastated large areas of agricultural and forest land. The government's multi-faceted response aims to address both the immediate aftermath and the long-term prevention of such events. Understand policy impacts on your Portugal property plans at realestate-lisbon.com.
