New drug law enacted // Serra da Estrela covered in hail
Portuguese news in English on Monday, September 4, 2023
New drug law approved by Constitutional Court and president
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has ticked off on the new drug law, after getting the seal of approval from the Constitutional Court, Lusa reports. The law decriminalises synthetic drugs — 23 years after the same was done for more traditional narcotics — and makes a new distinction between trafficking and consumption, Diário de Notícias reports. Previously, it was still a crime to have more than what was considered the average consumption for a 10-day period. But the new law applies “so long as its demonstrated the acquisition or possession is exclusively for personal use”. Trafficking is still a crime but must be proven based on more than just the amount of drugs in someone's possession. The new law has sparked warnings, including from within the addiction treatment community, about the potential for a “grey zone” in which trafficking is more difficult to prove. Portugal’s internationally hailed drug policy success is about much more than just decriminalisation; the shift in attitude and treating addiction as a health problem was critical, according to experts. The Guardian has an in-depth look at the subject here, in English. It's a few years old now but still excellent.
Serra da Estrela covered in blanket of hail as wild weather hits
This week’s rapid end to the long run of hot, dry summer weather dumped hail and caused flooding in parts of the country, Público reports. Serra da Estrela, in particular, was left looking like it was the middle of winter thanks to a thick coat of hail. Civil Protection authorities were called out to 50 incidents on Saturday afternoon, mostly involving trees knocked down by strong winds and structural damage linked to the hail. In Mirandela in the northern Bragança district, the rain flooded a range of streets as hail fell. Braga, Porto and Viana do Castelo remain under a yellow-level warning for rain until tomorrow morning.
New speed cameras first step in road safety increase
The introduction of 37 new speed cameras, including the first 12 in the country capable of measuring average velocity, is just the first step in a broader increase, Diário de Notícias reports. The national radar network will eventually be doubled with the installation of 62 new cameras, costing €5.6 million. But the big change is the point-to-point cameras, which aim to stop drivers slowing down as they pass cameras just to accelerate again after 100 metres or so. The president of Portuguese Road Safety believes this makes them more effective in preventing crashes. But the Association for the Promotion of a Culture of Road Safety lamented that the launch of the new devices had focused on the radars themselves saving lives, rather than promoting the message that slowing down on the road saves lives. You can see a rough map of the new radars below and an interactive version here.
In brief
'Hell' in Chiado's metro station affecting tourists and locals. Travellers, many of them elderly or carrying bags, have to complete 200 steps to get to the carriage. All four downwards escalators are undergoing maintenance works and two of the escalators heading up are broken. (Público)
Next year's rent rise to be highest in 30 years without government intervention. The inflation-driven increase was limited to 2% this year but will jump to 6.94% in 2024 if the government doesn’t make a change. (Público)
Festivals criticised for reusable cups policies. Portugal’s big festivals have made the switch to reusable cups but are no longer allowing revellers to return them and get their deposit back. Environmentalists say this leads to excess production of waste. (Expresso)
The Portuguese are reading more, thanks to young people. Just 62% bought a new book in the last year but the numbers are increasing, although the Portuguese Association of Publishers and Booksellers said Portugal remains the European country in which the fewest people read. (Expresso)
On a lighter note
Free culture Sunday is back. As of yesterday, Portuguese residents can again get free entry to state-run museums, monuments and palaces on the sleepiest day of the week, Diário de Notícias reports. Previously, the spaces run by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) had been free on Sundays until 2pm for all visitors. Children under 12 and those in a small list of other professions have free entry every day of the week. You can find a list of DGPC spaces here.