PS Government criticizes lack of contact with Portuguese stranded on cruise in Abu Dhabi

The Socialist Party (PS) accused the government this Friday, March 6, of not directly contacting 73 Portuguese citizens stranded a week ago on a cruise in the United Arab Emirates.

“There are 73 Portuguese citizens stranded in the port of Abu Dhabi for a week now, without having information or direct contact with any diplomatic/consular official, unlike what happens with citizens of other nationalities, who meet regularly with their diplomatic representatives”, criticized the PS, in a statement sent to Lusa.

According to the press release, these Portuguese citizens are stranded on an MSC Euribia cruise and the only information they receive are “automatic messages from the embassy“, as they are unable to make telephone calls and have not received a “visit from any representative of the Portuguese State”.

According to the same source, it is important that diplomatic officials go to meet citizens in difficult situations, “in this case going to the boat, to find out the situation they are in”.

Finally, the PS calls on the Government to establish direct contact with Portuguese citizens“to know their situation, be informed about exit expectations and other types of issues, so that they can be more at ease.”

“The Government cannot abandon its citizens to their fate, especially in a context of war”stated the party in the note.

Lusa tried to contact the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, Emídio Sousa, but, so far, has not received a response.

The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, was asked this Friday, in Spain, about the possibility of the Portuguese Government carrying out more repatriation flights and admitted that requests “are appearing all the time and from several countries in the region” of the Middle East, guaranteeing that national capacity is being used to carry out repatriation flights “in a context of European solidarity”, which contemplates the possibility of nationals from other States – not just European, being able to travel on Portuguese flights, and vice versa.

A plane chartered for TAP with 147 passengers, of which 139 are Portuguese, fleeing the war in Iran landed in Lisbon today at 10:16 am as part of a repatriation operation by the Portuguese authorities. In the early hours of the morning, the military plane with 39 passengers had already landed at Figo Maduro Airport.