Golden visa scheme could be scrapped // SEF scam complaints sent to investigators
Portuguese news in English on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
By the numbers
Golden visa scheme could be scrapped
Portugal’s government is considering scrapping the controversial golden visa program, Público reports. Prime Minister António Costa said the program, which grants non-EU citizens residence in exchange for significant real estate, business or capital investment, had probably already fulfilled its role and was no longer justified. Speaking at Web Summit, Costa was asked about complaints from young Portuguese workers that they’re discriminated against through such programs and the newly announced digital nomad visas. The PM said the country had to keep making itself more attractive for people to want to come and live here. Golden visas are available for those who create 10 jobs or invest €1.5 million in capital but most go to people who spend more than half a million euros on real estate. You can read more from Reuters in English.
SEF scam complaints sent to investigators
Public prosecutors have received multiple complaints regarding scams linked to difficulties people have been experiencing booking appointments with SEF (Immigration and Border Service), Público reports. The newspaper has shared tales of people buying multiple SIM cards and using an automatic dialler to get one of the 60,000 appointment slots opened up in recent weeks. But some people are also offering to arrange appointments in exchange for money, usually somewhere between €20 to €80 but sometimes as much as hundreds, particularly on Facebook groups offering advice for dealing with SEF. Público said the service isn’t illegal, but warned SEF had already sent several complaints to public prosecutors from those who alleged they’d paid for the service and received nothing in return. Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Minister says the restructure of SEF (Immigration and Border Service) will go ahead next year, Lusa reports.
Lisbon suburb sends scooters to waste facilities
One Lisbon parish took “emergency measures” to combat the flood of Electric scooters clogging up its footpaths, ordering them to be pulled from the streets and taken to a city waste deposit, Diário de Notícias reports. Ajuda junta de freguesia president Jorge Marques said he decided to remove scooters that were in the way after repeated attempts to convince the Lisbon City Council, scooter rental companies and even the police to act. He said the parish hadn’t seen major problems with the trotinetes until summer this year, when an increase in tourists coincided with the opening of the Royal Treasure Museum in Ajuda. He said residents were constantly falling over the vehicles or having to walk onto the road to avoid large groups of them so waste workers were told to treat them like any other large rubbish left on the street. The situation had improved since taking the radical step and Ajuda was in discussions with Lisbon City Council to introduce 30 or so dedicated parking areas, he said.
In brief
Portugal’s climate-change-fighting efforts rated before the COP27 summit. The country wins positive marks for shutting coal-fired power stations and its accelerated progress towards generating 80% of its power from renewable energy but is held back by the CO2-spewing mass burning of forests and poor public transport. (Público)
TAP cabin crews give notice of strike on December 8 and 9. The union, which voted to take the action due to what it described as failure to respect working conditions, will meet again 48 hours before the proposed strike to evaluate negotiations. (Público)
Minister's family's business received €2.8 million in European Recovery and Resilience Plan funds. The Infrastructure Minister owns half a per cent of the company, as does his sister, while his father owns 44% and his mother owns 5%. (Sábado)
Scramble for shade: Why cities aren’t planting more trees. Tree coverage in most EU capitals has been going backwards, despite the long list of well-known benefits they bring. (Politico, in English)
On a lighter note
The Dia de São Martinho is coming up on November 11, bringing roasted chestnuts, new wine and, hopefully, summery weather (What some countries call an Indian summer, Portugal calls St Martin’s summer). Many local councils across the country will be highlighting activities ranging from chestnut feasts and vineyard lunches to winery visits and talha (amphorae) wine tastings. Evasões has a list of six highlights, in the Douro, Alentejo, Setúbal, Vila Nova de Gaia, Torres Vedras and Palmela.