Euthanasia law set to be approved // Smoking banned in more places
Portuguese news in English on Monday, May 15, 2023.
Euthanasia law set to be approved
The Portuguese parliament has approved new euthanasia decriminalisation laws for the fifth time, Público reports, but this time it looks to be for real. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had previously vetoed various versions of the new law or sent them to the Constitutional court for review. But this time, the devout Catholic already said he would approve the law, waiving his right to avoid doing so on grounds of conscience, saying it was his “constitutional duty” to approve a law reconfirmed by the Assembly of the Republic. The law in its latest form focuses more on “medically assisted dying”, saying patients can only opt for euthanasia if they can’t do so themselves. With summer fast approaching and talk soon turning to the budget, it looks like it will be months before any laws enter into force. Pope Frances criticised the move, Público reports. The Catholic leader said he was “very sad” because a country “where the Virgin Mary appeared” joined the growing list of countries enacting a “law to kill”.
Smoking banned in more places
The Council of Ministers has approved a proposal to ban smoking in more areas and bring heated tobacco restrictions more in line with traditional cigarettes, Expresso reports. The changes, some of which start to come into effect on October 23, includes banning smoking near the entrance to public areas such as hospitals and schools as well as in covered terraces. It also radically restricts where cigarettes can be sold and requires warning labels and pictures to be put on heated tobacco packaging. Beach businesses can even prohibit smoking on their beaches. Automatic vending machines selling tobacco products will also be banned from next year in spaces such as restaurants, bars, service stations and music festivals. Some organisations representing the hospitality sector, service stations and other tobacco sellers have criticised the changes. The government said it had not banned smoking on uncovered terraces — as had many other European countries — but said it had wanted to go further and didn’t rule out discussing the move, Diário de Notícias reports.
AI to help son connect with ‘locked in’ father
A Portuguese project is supposedly set to use artificial intelligence to help a man speak with his father almost without limitations for the first time in years, Diário de Notícias reports. Afonso’s father suffers severe Lou Gehrig’s disease, leaving him “locked in” and unable to communicate. Paulo Dimas, vice president of innovation at Unbabel, says his company has created a device that will enable the interaction when father and son reunite in Porto at Christmas. First, it worked with the Champalimaud Foundation to create the machine interface using electrodes on the skull. He said the company worked extensively with the family to create a “personality” as close as possible to Afonso’s father. Then Dimas said the company worked with the Centre for Responsible AI at the University of Lisbon on a series of complicated privacy questions such as anonymising data and using only that necessary to create the AI. The centre is involved with another 20 projects under way.
In brief
Severe drought spreads in Portugal, officials seek EU help. About 90% of the country was in drought, including one-fifth in severe drought, twice as much as in March. (Reuters, in English)
Intelligence services oversight body refutes PM's accusation of "theft" of work computer. The head of the Council for the Oversight of the Intelligence System of the Portuguese Republic said there was no information to suggest any crime had been committed when a now-fired ministerial adviser took the computer home in a scandal linked to the TAP inquiry. (Público)
Rail workers propose strike for May 31. The union said the recent agreement between CP and train drivers broke another agreement already in place and put at risk safety, jobs, and the “social peace” of the company.
Activists block Sines port to protest natural gas. A spokesperson for the 150-strong protest, which called for electricity to be produced entirely from renewable sources by 2025, said it forced the closure of the pipeline to a terminal that produces electricity for the national grid. (Diário de Notícias)
Foreign investors prepare to spend €720 million in hotel sector this year. After a slow start to the year, Cushman & Wakefield says the end of the golden visa doesn’t appear to be any impediment to the hefty investments, which are in various stages of completion. (Dinheiro Vivo)
On a lighter note
If you haven’t been to the movies for a while, now is the time. The Festa do Cinema, which started yesterday and continues through to Wednesday, is bringing €3.50 movies to cinemas all across the country, Diário de Notícias reports. NOS, UCI, Cinema City, Cinebox and other cinemas are participating in the event, which includes all normal films. Sessions such as IMAX, 3D and VIP will still come with extra costs.