Prime minister resigns amid corruption probe // Guinness World Records investigates oldest dog age claims
Portuguese news in English on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Prime minister resigns amid corruption probe
Prime Minister António Costa has resigned after prosecutors running a probe into alleged corruption involving lithium and hydrogen projects announced he was under investigation, Diário de Notícias reports. Costa denied having committed “any illicit act” but said the role of prime minister was incompatible with someone being investigated in such a manner. The Socialist Party (PS) leader handed in his resignation this afternoon to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – who accepted it – and said he wouldn’t run for prime minister again.
Prosecutors said five people, including Vitor Escaria, Costa's chief of staff, had been detained and several government buildings searched, Reuters reports, in English. Infrastructure Minister João Galamba and Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) president Nuno Lacasta were named as formal suspects. Prosecutors investigating alleged corruption and influence peddling in two lithium mining projects in northern Portugal and a hydrogen plant and data centre in Sines claimed suspects used Costa’s name to “unblock procedures”. Costa pledged to fully cooperate with the Supreme Court’s inquiry into the allegations.
Amid calls by some opposition parties for fresh elections, Marcelo called a meeting of the Council of State for tomorrow and said he would address the nation on Thursday, Público reports.
Marcelo clarifies controversial comments to Palestinian ambassador
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has sought to clarify his comments to the Palestinian ambassador that “someone on your side” “shouldn’t have started” the brutal war with Israel, Público reports. At a pro-Palestine protest at the Belém Palace on Sunday, Marcelo was harshly criticised by several attendees but insisted he “said what Portugal thinks”. “Portugal condemned the act of terrorism but is in favour of Palestine,” he said, adding it was “clearly in favour of the state of Palestine”.
On Friday, the president had spoken with Palestinian ambassador Dr Nabil Abuznaid at the Diplomatic Bazaar in Lisbon, Diário de Notícias reports. “I know that you blame Israel for it but this time someone on your side started it and … should not have started it,” Marcelo said. Marcelo’s backdown on Sunday followed criticism from the leader of the Left Bloc (BE) and two members of the governing Socialist Party (PS), reported by Diário de Notícias, as well as the ambassador himself. Palestinian militant group Hamas killed more than 1400 people and took more than 200 hostage in an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, the Associated Press reports, in English. Since then, more than 10,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. You can read more about the complicated beginnings of the decades-long conflict and occupation of the Palestinian territories at the BBC, in English.
A year of digital nomad visas in Portugal
A year on from the creation of Portugal’s digital nomad visa, about 2600 of the authorisations have been granted, Público reports. In a piece looking at what drives nomads to come to Portugal, and whether they’re likely to stay longer than the one year included in the visa, the paper spoke to several foreigners living in Portugal. Their experiences range from Eric Chambers, 41, who lives in Guimarães and sees himself staying here for “maybe 10 or more years”, to a 24-year-old woman living on Madeira who doesn’t know what she’ll do when her visa runs out in six months. The influx of digital nomads and other foreign workers has been blamed in part for driving up prices amid a housing crisis. Eric said making housing accessible for locals didn’t mean expelling locals and urged legislation to help, suggesting measures similar to New York’s moves to limit maximum rental values in certain areas and rehabilitate old homes. Without giving exact figures, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the highest number of visas went to US citizens, followed by those from Brazil and the UK. Digital Nomads Association Portugal president Gonçalo Hall said most nomads weren’t interested in permanently migrating to portugal.
In brief
Health authorities investigate €4 million treatment of Portuguese-Brazilian twins. TVI reported they came to Portugal in 2019 to be treated in hospital with Zolgensma, one of the most expensive drugs in the world. The TV station reported there were suspicions President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had influenced the process, a claim he denied. (Público)
Dozens of emergency wards face restrictions in 'dramatic' November. Doctors’ unions fighting for better pay are yet to come to an agreement with the Health Ministry. Almost 40 hospitals are set to be left without 90% of their services. (Público)
Portugal’s economy goes backward, sparking alarms in government and presidency. The country’s GDP shrunk 0.2% from the second to third quarter, the first contraction since the depths of the pandemic at the start of 2021. (Dinheiro Vivo)
Tsunami alert sounded across Lisbon. Monday’s siren at the Praça do Império in Belém was part of an exercise to test the alert and the city’s degree of readiness. (Lusa)
Web Summit chief steps down over Israel remarks. Alphabet, Meta, Intel and other companies pulled out after Paddy Cosgrove said “War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are”. (New York Times, in English)
On a lighter note
Guinness World Records says it's investigating claims about the age of Bobi, the Portuguese rafeiro alentejano who died last month after being recognised as the world’s oldest dog, The Guardian reports, in English. The beloved pet died at 31 years and 165 days on October 21 this year, according to the age the records book had certified. But many had questioned whether such a long life was possible for a dog. Photos of Bobi from 1999 with what appeared to be different-coloured paws had raised particular questions. His age is also registered on the Portuguese pet database but these figures are generally self-reported by owners. Prominent vet Danny Chambers said not a single one of his colleagues believed Bobi was 31. “This is the equivalent of a human living to over 200 years old which, given our current medical capabilities, is completely implausible,” he said. A Guinness World Records spokesperson told the Guardian: “We’re aware of the questions around Bobi’s age and are looking into them.”
