Pope to meet with church victims in Portugal // Teachers criticised for ‘offensive’ placards of prime minister
Portuguese news on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Pope to meet with sexual abuse victims in Portugal
The Pope will meet with victims of the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal when he travels to Portugal in August for World Youth Day, Público reports. World Youth Day Foundation president Américo Aguiar confirmed the plans to Lusa last week, saying the meeting was not included on the pontiff’s official itinerary to protect the privacy of victims. The church said about 30 survivors would be there. The Pope underwent abdominal surgery last week, CNN reports in English, but is still expected to make his scheduled trips to Portugal and Mongolia.
Teachers criticised for ‘offensive’ placards of prime minister
A small group of teachers have been widely criticised for a protest carrying placards with a caricature of Prime Minister António Costa that have been described as “unacceptable”, “offensive” and even “racist”, Público reports. They featured the Socialist Party (PS) leader with a pig’s nose and pencils stabbing him in the eyes, along with a call for him to resign and were paraded during an appearance he made in Régua for Portugal Day. Costa, who is of Goan and Portuguese descent, called the images “a bit racist”. Multiple people associated with or supportive of teachers’ efforts to demand better working conditions, which have included long-running strikes and enormous marches this year, said the placard incident hurt the broader movement. They criticised the aggression and insults on show, along with the choice of day. Teaching unions rejected the criticisms, saying the prime minister was trying to divert attentions away from the public school system’s problems, Lusa reports. Teachers have been ordered to provide a minimum level of service during strikes scheduled for the upcoming exam period, Diário de Notícias reports.
Airbnb hits back against housing crisis response
Airbnb has strongly criticised the government’s proposed measures to fix the housing crisis, claiming the Alojamento Local (short-term rental) crackdown will “indiscriminately” hurt thousands of families, Dinheiro Vivo reports. The accommodation giant called on the government to fully evaluate the effect of its proposed measures on the economy and wait for European regulation. The company claimed almost two-thirds of Airbnb stays last year were outside of Lisbon and Porto and that fewer than 20% of hosts rented out more than one home or room, arguing it was an important way for families to make money in the face of the cost of living crisis. Housing Minister Marina Gonçalves last week said the more homes that left the short-term rental market to become available for long-term living the better. She also admitted her government had some responsibility for the lack of recent construction and availability of public housing, Público reports. The More Housing package includes measures such as forced rental of abandoned houses, suspending granting of new Alojamento Local licences and ending the Golden Visa scheme.
Home prices surged 19% last year and the average rent in Lisbon jumped 43% to €1693 — more than double the minimum wage — Bloomberg reports, in English (paywall). Several expat services, consultants and bloggers told the publication Portugal was starting to lose its appeal among Americans with the end of the Golden Visas.
In brief
Boastful former minister attacks the right, distances himself from PM. In a sort of pre-hearing before he fronts the TAP inquiry this week, ex-infrastructure minister Pedro Nuno Santos, claimed credit for bringing the airline and rail company CP into profit for the first time in decades. “Did you miss me?” he asked his former colleagues. (Público)
João made an app to report bad parking and even the police use it. The Denúncia de Estacionamento app will send an email to police on your behalf using a simple form and photo upload. (Público)
Portugal's biggest dam to become huge hybrid energy battery. It’s planned to power 92,000 houses by 2025 using wind, solar, and an expanded hydroelectric offering that will use excess solar power to pump water back up into the dam. (Público)
Portugal's biggest polluter increases emissions. The Galp refinery in Sines spewed out the equivalent of 2.66 million tonnes of carbon dioxide last year, according to environmental association Zero. (Público)
On a lighter note
The Lisbon suburb of Bica has won this year's parade competition, Público reports. The competition sits at the centre of the capital during Santo António night celebrations and involves an original song and dance routine. Extravagant and/or traditional costuming is mandatory as the locals parade along Avenida da Liberdade. Bairro Alto finished in second and Alfama was third.