Millions watch main debate before election // Portuguese study finds geological phenomenon ‘invading’ Atlantic Ocean
Portuguese news on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Millions watch main debate before election
In the main televised debate before the March 10 elections, Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos has said he won’t block a Democratic Alliance (AD) minority government if his party loses, Público reports. The comments, which followed weeks of refusals by both parties to entertain hypotheticals brought on by electoral defeat, came in an interruption-filled showdown with AD chief Luís Montenegro. Montenegro didn’t reveal what he would do if he failed to form government but opened the door to governing with fellow right-wing party Liberal Initiative (IL). Almost 2.8 million viewers tuned into last night’s debate between the leaders of the two major parties, the 28th and final in the long series between political party leaders, Público reports. It was much lower than the 3.3 million who watched the 2022 election equivalent, and partly impacted by a top-flight football match broadcast at the same time.
Several hundred police marched on Lisbon’s Capitólio theatre, where the debate was being filmed, Público reports. The officers, who are demanding an increase to a pay supplement recently granted to one of the police forces but not the others, began their protest at Terreiro do Paço before making an unauthorised journey towards the debate. Police forces themselves hadn’t been warned to station officers in the area.
Expresso has produced an interactive guide to compare the political platforms of every party, which is in Portuguese but still works with Chrome’s website translation turned on.
Portuguese study finds geological phenomenon ‘invading’ Atlantic Ocean
The first signs of the (very very far off) death of the Atlantic Ocean may have been captured by Portuguese scientists in a new study, Público reports. A subduction zone — in which a tectonic plate dives under another towards the earth’s mantle — under the Gibraltar Strait seems to be spreading extremely slowly towards the Atlantic. University of Lisbon scientists João C. Duarte, Filipe Rosas and others suggest after a “period of quiescence”, the infection could “invade” the Atlantic within 20 million years and result in a ring of fire that would swallow the ocean and condemn it to extinction. The phenomenon could help to explain the severity of the 1755 earthquake that devastated Lisbon and be a reminder that a similar tremor could be on the way.
In a study published in the journal Geology, the authors said few authors considered the zone was still active but they used new “gravity-driven geodynamic models” to achieve their results.
An industry group says houses in Portugal could be at risk from earthquakes thanks to a lack of monitoring, Diário de Notícias reports. The head of the association representing ready-mix concrete firms said the inspections mandated by law were “practically nonexistent”. He said lack of construction industry monitoring, particularly in private projects, exposed Portugal to a calamity similar in scope to the recent earthquake crises in Turkey and Syria.
Rent increase hits 30-year record
Even a 55% jump in the number of houses advertised for rent hasn’t been enough to stop the biggest increase to rents in 30 years, Público reports. Socialist Party (PS) leader Pedro Nuno Santos used the availability increase to show the now-caretaker government’s More Housing measures were working. But the figure, taken from Idealista and reflected on two other real estate platforms, doesn’t tell the whole story. Although ads have gone up, we don’t know the absolute numbers, just the percentage increase, which follows years with significant falls in availability. In addition, the number of new rental contracts signed actually dropped slightly throughout the year.
Most importantly, the one statistic this year that matters to the average person — rental prices — continued to increase, up 5.93% in January compared with the same month last year. The last time the figure, based on price per square metre not overall values, jumped so high was in December 1994. When only new rental contracts are measured, the jump was even more notable, a 10.5% jump in the third quarter to take the average rent to €7.25 per square metre.
In brief
Judge calls prosecutors’ suspicions of António Costa 'vague' and 'contradictory'. In a rare move, they went point by point to refute arguments made in an appeal against bail conditions imposed on some of those accused in the Operation Influencer case. (Expresso)
Red Cross Portugal rethinks services and shuts homes in old buildings. The non-profit runs the risk of bankruptcy without more rigorous management but after half a year in the job, its new president guarantees those it supports won’t be left behind. (Público)
Olive oil exports pass €1 billion for first time. Portugal exported less olive oil last year than in 2022, but inflation pushed the value of the trade to a record high. (Expresso)
Outgoing president of Madeira regional government says he’ll “almost definitely” run again. Miguel Albuquerque resigned over corruption in which he was named a prime suspect but not charged. He said the judge concluded there was no evidence of crimes, particularly not serious crimes. (Público)
Tourist accommodation rakes in €6 billion. The 2023 figures jumped 13.3% compared to the previous year on the back of 30 million guests passing 77.2 million guest-nights in the country. (Público)
On a lighter note
Looking for the best food and drink in Porto? Well, here it is, according to Timeout. The publication has handed out its Prémios Comer e Beber in seven different categories, from best new restaurant and “bar world of tomorrow” to the classic and best chef. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying any of them but they must be doing something right.
As a bonus lighter note, Diogo Ribeiro won gold again at the swimming world champs, this time in the 100m butterfly, Público reports. He says he won’t stop until he wins Olympic gold.