Santana Lopes on APA: "The State cannot continue to mock and deceive people"

Mayor Santana Lopes delivered severe criticism of the Portuguese Environment Agency's (APA) performance, denouncing State delays in resolving processes with private entities. During his speech, the mayor emphasized that APA no longer functions effectively, suggesting that the agency is outdated and does not meet current needs. Santana Lopes accused the State of not properly treating citizens and companies that wish to move forward with projects, stating that "the State cannot continue to mock and deceive people." This criticism arises in the context of a mayor facing concrete problems in his region related to environmental processes that are blocked or delayed.