Calls for Portugal to address slavery legacy // Ukraine’s president to visit Portugal
Portuguese news in English on Monday, October 9, 2023.
Note: I will be on vacation for three weeks with somewhat limited access to the internet. I’ll be back with a newsletter for you again on November 6. To my paid subscribers, thank you again for your ongoing support – if you wish to pause your subscription for a month while I'm gone, I totally understand.
Calls for Portugal to address slavery legacy
There are growing calls for Portugal to offer a “real sorry” for its history as the European country with the longest involvement in slave trading, The Guardian reports, in English. The newspaper highlights two instances of graffiti on Lisbon’s Discoveries Monument in recent times and analyses a shift in tone from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa over the course of six years. Marcelo six months ago suggested it was time for Portugal to “assume responsibility” and apologise. Addressing the issue in 2017 on a Senegalese island Portugal used in the slave trade for centuries, Marcelo had highlighted how Portugal started abolishing slavery in the 1760s, rather than its centuries-long involvement or continuation of slavery in its colonies until 1869. Evalina Dias, a project manager at Portugal’s Association of African Descendants (DJASS), said the 2017 version was a “lie” and the president knew it. “He’s a very intelligent man but he still said it because it was a way not to acknowledge what happened. He was saying: ‘Yes, we did it, but we were the first to abolish it.’ I think they didn’t want to talk about it back then,” she said. The in-depth article also explores the modern-day experiences of Brazilians and descendants of people from other former colonies
Ukraine’s president to visit Portugal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accepted an invitation to visit Portugal, Diário de Notícias reports. Marcelo made the announcement on Republic Day, without revealing many details. He said both sides were working on the logistics and appeared to imply the visit would happen with little pre-warning. Zelensky was in Granada, Spain, last week and it had been speculated he might travel across the border, but that didn’t come to pass. On a visit to Kyiv in August, Marcelo invited Zelensky to return the favour.
Portugal to co-host 2030 men’s FIFA World Cup
Portugal will co-host the 2030 men’s FIFA World Cup with Spain and Morocco, in a tournament that will begin thousands of kilometres away in South America, Público reports. The European-African neighbours’ proposal had been the only remaining bid, along with a South American push. Instead, FIFA said the tournament would start with three games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, to honour the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup, which was played in Uruguay. In Portugal, matches will be played in the stadiums of Sporting, Benfica and Porto, but only up until the quarter-finals, with the semis and final to be played in Morocco and Spain. Only Asian and Oceanian countries will be eligible to host the 2034 tournament, The Associated Press Reports, in English. Saudi Arabia has immediately announced it would be bidding for the competition, and Australia is also interested, on the heels of hosting the women’s FIFA World Cup earlier this year.
In brief
President attends “royal” wedding at National Palace of Mafra basilica. Maria Francisca de Bragança, who would be fourth in line to the throne if her father, Duarte Pio de Bragança, had his way in restoring the monarchy, married lawyer Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins on saturday. (Público)
Effects of NHR tax status to linger for 10 years. Almost 30,000 people made tax declarations benefiting from the special deal in 2022, costing €1,3 billion compared to if they were paying standard tax rates. (Público)
Minimum wage to rise 7.9% to €820 in 2024. Prime Minister António Costa said it was the largest ever rise to the figure, and it’s €10 more than had been predicted a year ago. (Dinheiro Vivo)
New Portuguese Agency for Minorities, Migrations and Asylum to have power to admit foreigners without asking for security check. Inspectors from SEF, which is being replaced, fear the effects of the freedom but the nation’s secret services insist everyone applying for residence will be checked and Home Affairs says the new system is more secure. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
Portugal has been elected Europe’s best tourist destination for the second year in a row, taking home 17 awards at the so-called “Oscars” of tourism, Público reports. The Algarve was crowned the best beach destination in Europe, Lisbon was crowned best city destination and Porto won best city break. Madeira was dubbed the best island destination and a handful of hotels and other accommodation options picked up awards. Even a few tourist attractions were hailed, including the Paiva Walkways (Passadiços do Paiva) in Arouca and Quake - Lisbon Earthquake Museum.