"This bridge—called Salazar, 25 de Abril, the bridge over the Tagus—is in a worrying state in terms of its support. We will have to shut this bridge down for repairs any day now, and I think it's important that Infraestruturas de Portugal take into account the bridge's current condition […]. I think we should alert the authorities about the bridge's current condition," Bruno Mascarenhas stated at the Lisbon Municipal Assembly meeting.

This intervention took place during the discussion of a Chega vote to commend the "bridge over the Tagus/Salazar Bridge," which drew criticism, given that the current name of this infrastructure is the 25th of April Bridge. The document was rejected with votes against from BE, Livre, PEV, PCP, two deputies from Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), PS, PSD, IL, Aliança, and CDS-PP, abstention from MPT, and votes in favor from Chega and deputy Margarida Penedo (former CDS-PP member).

Bruno Mascarenhas also said that it is time for a new crossing over the Tagus River, highlighting the possibility of a connection between Algés and Trafaria, "precisely to give some rest" to the 25th of April Bridge, considering that this infrastructure, which is over half a century old and inaugurated in August 1966, no longer meets current needs.

“Alarming”

In response to this intervention, Francisco Domingues, of the PSD, demanded from the Chega representative "concrete evidence" that could support his arguments about the bridge's safety, considering that the concern expressed "is alarming."

"If the bridge is not safe, I think it should be made public for the benefit of the entire population," the PSDB member insisted.

In the same vein, IL representative Angélique da Teresa said that if Bruno Mascarenhas does not share his information with the Chega group in the Assembly of the Republic, she will submit a request for "an emergency meeting to assess what is happening on the 25 de Abril Bridge."

"I cannot believe that the representative has privileged information and that he will not share it with his colleagues in the Assembly of the Republic," the IL representative stated, considering that the warning he issued "is of atrocious gravity."

In response, Bruno Mascarenhas attempted to clarify: "We know the bridge is very saturated, and that's what we have to take into consideration. I didn't say the bridge would collapse. I didn't say the bridge was at risk. I said there's a lot of saturation, […] there's a lot of wear and tear on this bridge."

The Chega MP reinforced the need to "create new infrastructure" and argued that the government should ask Infraestruturas de Portugal about the condition of the 25 de Abril Bridge, requesting a thorough assessment.

"If they confirm that everything is fine, we'll all stay calm, we'll all be at peace," he added, emphasizing that "prevention is better than cure."

“Inciting fear”

Even after this response, PSD representative Américo Vitorino accused Bruno Mascarenhas of "inciting fear," casting doubt on a bridge used daily by thousands of people, especially after the incident with the Glória elevator: "It's highly reprehensible and unworthy of this Municipal Assembly, much less of a candidate for the Lisbon City Council [in the October 12 elections]."

Martim Borges de Freitas, of the CDS-PP, asked the assembly president to submit a request to the Chega group to provide justification for what they said.

Regarding the salute vote, Ofélia Janeiro, of Livre, considered that Chega is "trying to resurrect a dictator and erase the meaning of April," an interpretation also echoed by Angélique da Teresa, of IL, both of whom repudiated this attempt.

"We absolutely do not want to resurrect the Salazar Bridge," stated Bruno Mascarenhas.