Reports Pro-Putin Russians welcomed Ukrainian refugees // Why so many Portuguese venues still allow smoking indoors
Portuguese news in English on May 8, 2022.
By the numbers
Note: Apologies for the late newsletter. I was sick on Friday and had to work all weekend. I’m going take a break while I’m in Madeira for the next two weeks but I’ll speak to you all when I get back.
Investigation into reports Pro-Putin Russians welcomed Ukrainian refugees
The Setúbal council has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate reports Ukrainian refugees were welcomed by pro-Putin Russians, Lusa reports. One employee has been removed from the department responsible. Expresso, which broke the news, reported at least 160 fleeing Ukrainians were welcomed by the employee and her husband, a prominent member of the local Russian community who does not work for the Communist Party-majority council. Some refugees said they had concerns about documents with details of family members still in Ukraine being photocopied, and being asked about those relatives. The council denied any suggestion personal details were mistreated and said the Russian man had collaborated with various migrant-related government departments for some years. The Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal had previously raised potential concerns about Russians with links to the Kremlin welcoming Ukrainian refugees.
Why so many Portuguese venues still allow smoking indoors
Even though smoking indoors has been prohibited in Portugal since the start of last year, a delayed law has left open a grey zone making the ban almost impossible to enforce, Público reports. The problem is an exception opened up for smoking areas that conform to certain conditions. Unfortunately, those conditions have yet to be legally defined, leaving a hole in the law and preventing authorities from doing much to police the ban. The government blamed the pandemic and the early dissolution of Parliament for the delay. Health experts argue the only way to properly protect workers from second-hand smoke is a total ban, while venue owners complain the proposed rules could only be followed in airports and shopping centres.
Experts fear criminal justice ‘earthquake’ after metadata law failed
Portugal’s Constitutional Court has rejected a law allowing police forces to access certain metadata, a move described as “devastating” and an “earthquake” regarding its effect on criminal investigations, Diário de Notícias reports. The ruling takes effect from the law’s introduction in 2008, putting in jeopardy thousands of past, present and future terrorism, kidnapping, organised crime drug trafficking and other serious cases, several sources told the paper. At question is the storage for one year of metadata (slightly old and Australian-specific but simple explainer here from The Guardian in English), obtained from telecommunications companies, for the investigation of “serious crimes”. The judicial majority, with one vote against, found the law was disproportionately invasive for citizens whose own metadata could end up saved without being suspected of any crime.
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In brief
Public debt jumps to second-highest level ever but analysts give benefit of the doubt. The figure hit €276 billion (120% of GPD) this year. Analysts worried about inflation and Portugal’s low productivity levels but others pointed to “strong dynamics” in the economy and a smaller comparative debt growth lower than European peers.
Anonymous interviews about University of Lisbon Faculty of Law sexual harassment leaked. Audio files are circulating on Whatsapp without vocal distortion removed and including identifying details. (Diário de Notícias)
FC Porto crowned champions of Portugal for 30th time. The “Dragons” cemented the league title with a win over arch-rivals Benfica in the Clássico on Saturday night.
On a lighter note
Portugal is home to two more wild Iberian lynxes, a species that was on the brink of extinction about two decades ago, Público reports. Sidra and Salao leapt from their cages at a run when they were released in front of a crowd of onlookers near Alcoutim, in the Algarve, on Tuesday. There were fewer than 100 of the wild cats at the end of the ‘90s but they now number more than 200 in Portugal alone and more than 1100 across the Iberian Peninsula. Sidra and Salao were raised in Spain (lynxes are often raised in one country and sent to the other) but had almost zero contact with humans; they were forced to hunt and taught to fear humans.
Please keep sharing on social media, in real life or anywhere else you see people a bit confused by the latest news.
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