Almost 30 arrested in human trafficking operation // Attorney-general says she’s not at fault for PM resigning
Portuguese news in English on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
Almost 30 arrested in major human trafficking operation
Almost 30 people have been arrested in a police bust involving hundreds of officers investigating human trafficking in the Baixo Alentejo region, Diário de Notícias reports. In all, 28 Portuguese and foreigners were arrested on suspicion of being part of the crime ring exploiting and controlling foreign agriculture workers, many of whom were poorly treated. On top of human trafficking and assisting illegal immigration, there are also suspicions of criminal association fraud and other offences. Across the council areas of Cuba and Évora, 480 officers raided 78 homes and other locations last week as part of the operation. The number of victims remained unclear but police said there were at least 100, who were taken to the Beja air base. The victims of labour exploitation, who lived in degrading conditions, were recruited in their home countries, which included Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, India, Senegal and Pakistan, police alleged. They were earning €100–$250 a month when they’d been promised €800-€1000 or more with the difference supposedly kept to pay for accommodation and transport. Reuters has more in English.
Attorney-general says she’s not at fault for PM resigning
Portugal’s attorney-general has rejected claims from some inside the governing Socialist Party that she’s responsible for Prime Minister António Costa’s downfall, Público reports. Lucília Gago was forced to break her habit of not commenting publicly to address the claims, stemming from the launch of a Supreme Court investigation into the PM, related to the Operation Influencer probe into lithium and data centre projects. Gago said she didn’t feel particularly responsible for the personal and political evaluation Costa made after news broke of the investigation, which included the arrest and eventual release of his chief of staff and one of his close friends. She said her office “investigates what it should investigate” and the announcement of the separate investigation into Costa needed to be made for transparency.
Opposition party promises pension increase and tax cuts
The leader of the main opposition party has launched his bid to lead the nation with the support of a former prime minister and a promise to raise pensions, Público reports. Luís Montenegro, leader of the centre-right Social Democratic Party (PSD), promised “we won’t cut even a cent from any pension”. In an attempt to recover voters lost to the governing Socialist Party (PS), he instead promised to lift the minimum total income for a pensioner to €820 by 2028 and applauded the government for raising the minimum wage earlier this year. He also foreshadowed plans to lower income tax for under-35s and provide everyone free daycare and preschool, Reuters reports, in English.
Despite the crisis, the latest polling from Intercampus shows support for the main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD) has fallen (26% to 22%) more than for PS (25% to 23.5%), Público reports. Left Bloc (BE) (up three points to 9.5%) and Chega (up almost two points to 13.5%) improved the most. Several major figures from Europe’s far-right, including France’s Marine Le Pen, headed to Lisbon to show support for Andre Ventura’s Chega, Reuters reports, in English.
In brief
Twenty detained over allegations lab falsified water quality results. Police suspect the laboratory in Portugal’s north falsified data and in some cases tested water from the nearest tap instead of the test sites listed. They believe it may be just the tip of the iceberg. (Diário de Notícias)
Public prosecutors investigate case of Brazilian twins given multimillion-dollar treatment. For now, it’s unclear who is being investigated over the treatment, which cost €2 million per child, for the girls who lived in São Paulo. (Público)
About 10 formal suspects in consulate corruption investigation. A Portuguese police source said Portuguese and Brazilians were among the suspects in an alleged scheme at the Portuguese consulate in Rio de Janeiro involving illicit document legalisation to obtain Portuguese citizenship. (Lusa)
Lisbon, Porto and government have about 1000 homes for affordable housing. Thousands of families are in need but there are just 1028 homes on offer across the three affordable rental schemes. (Dinheiro Vivo)
Portugal has highest tuberculosis rate in western Europe. National program director Isabel Carvalho said the country had been doing good work for 20 years but there was still “a lot to do”. The incidence here is 14 cases per 100,000. (Diário de Notícias)
National Health System (SNS) issued 200,000 short-term sick leave passes in six months. A change introduced in May allowed workers to request the authorisations online for absences of three days or less. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
It’s generally gloomy news on the climate change front but there are bright spots. Earlier this month, Portugal produced more than enough renewable energy to power the country for six days in a row. That’s a new record, according to the government, which said the country’s renewable sources pumped out 1102GWh from October 31 to November 6, 262GWh more than what it consumed. At the peak of production, the country was exporting power to Spain for 95 hours straight.