Friday Briefing: A difficult week for the Government
Good morning and welcome to PORTUGAL DECODED. Political drama returned this week, as the AD fell to third in polls and a former PM spoke about "characterless prostitutes" in power. Here's the lowdown.
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TALK OF THE TOWN
POLITICS
Police raided the Socialist Party’s headquarters among other locations in an investigation into alleged favouritism in municipal contracts. Five people were detained, including a senior aide to Socialist leader José Luís Carneiro (More).
In parliament yesterday, Minister António Leitão Amaro accused Golden Visa advisers of misleading clients over access to citizenship. He defended migration reforms and thanked the Liberals (IL) and Chega for their support (More).
SOCIETY
Police detained two suspects over an alleged scheme that regularised more than 4,000 immigrants fraudulently. The case follows a separate indictment of 31 suspects accused of obtaining nearly €21 million through similar methods (More).
Mainland Portugal faces an unusually early heatwave, with temperatures reaching summer levels. Experts say rising temperatures make fire ignition control, land management and public awareness urgent (More).
ECONOMICS
Hoteliers are urging talks to prevent a June 3 aviation strike. They also called for the urgent suspension of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System until the end of September to prevent chaos at airports during the busy Summer season (More).
The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) said this week that beachgoers may place umbrellas in front of concessions if they stay outside legally assigned areas. Incorrect signs will be removed before the bathing season begins on June 1 (More).
CULTURE AND SPORTS
Belém Tower reopened this week after a €1 million restoration that cleaned and consolidated the monument. Daily visits are now capped at 900, with timed slots designed to reduce queues and protect the site (More).
The Lisbon Book Fair opened on Wednesday with 350 pavilions and more than 2,200 scheduled events. The programme runs until 14 June with authors, discounts, cinema, food and family activities (More).