The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has criticized insurance companies for allegedly delaying payments to victims of storms that caused significant damage in central Portugal earlier this year. The PCP claims insurers are “avoiding responsibility” and accuses them of employing “blackmail” tactics against small business owners filing claims. These storms resulted in substantial losses for businesses across multiple municipalities in the central region of the country. The party alleges that the delays are hindering recovery efforts for those affected. Specific details regarding the extent of the financial losses and the number of affected businesses were not provided in the initial report. The PCP is calling for faster and fairer compensation for those impacted by the severe weather events. This criticism highlights ongoing concerns about the responsiveness of insurance companies following natural disasters.