In a statement to journalists in Lisbon, where he took stock of his mandate, Eduardo Cabrita referred to the accident that caused the death of a worker on the highway, saying that "more than anyone" he regrets "this tragic, irreparable loss" while aiming criticism relating to “the political use that was made of a personal tragedy”, something that he said he observed “with amazement”.

"That's why I cannot allow this absolutely intolerable political use to be used in the current framework to penalise the action of the Government, against the prime minister, or even against the PS party. That's why I have decided to give my resignation as Minister of Internal Affairs to the Prime Minister," said Cabrita.

“I absolutely thank the Prime Minister, António Costa, for the opportunity to share these six years of intense dedication to the public cause. For all these four years that made me, for a few days, the Minister of Internal Administration with the longest term in democracy”, he stressed.

Eduardo Cabrita considered the Ministry of Internal Administration a “particularly difficult ministry and subject to uncertainty and the unforeseen on a daily basis”.

The outgoing minister thanked the “solidarity and full support” of the prime minister, in addition to having dedicated “a special word” to the secretaries of state with whom he worked over these six years and expressed a “deep recognition” of the forces, security services and civil protection units.

“It is with deep conviction that I wish the Prime Minister, António Costa, and the entire Government the best of luck and the greatest success in the difficult mission they will continue to play in controlling the pandemic, recovering the economy and creating the conditions for Portugal to have a governance framework that allows for a fairer path”, he said.

At the beginning of the statement, Eduardo Cabrita stated that he took over as Minister of Internal Affairs in October 2017, after forest fires that killed more than 100 people, and “in a particularly difficult context” for the country.

“Since then I have been working intensively to ensure that Portugal is a safe country in its various dimensions”, he said.