State of emergency on the table for extraordinary meeting tomorrow // Most covid-19 deaths in one day
Portuguese news in English on October 30, 2020
Forty covid-19 patients have died, with more in intensive care than ever before and another 4656 cases confirmed, making this clearly the pandemic’s worst day so far. The North has again passed the Lisbon and Tejo Valley region to be the most affected over the entire course of the pandemic, with more deaths and more confirmed cases. Nationally, Público reports 84% of dedicated covid-19 beds are occupied, and 81% of intensive care beds.
Source: DGS
State of emergency on the table for extraordinary meeting tomorrow
The door has been opened to the possible declaration of a state of emergency after tomorrow’s extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, Público reports. But a new national lockdown appears to be off the table for the time being at least. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Thursday admitted the possibility of a return to state of emergency, speaking of the need for specific measures for certain territories and broader measures for the country as a whole. Rui Rio, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), said he would support the measure, if declared, the Left Bloc (BE) and Portuguese Communist Party would not, Diário de Notícias reported.
A return to state of emergency does not automatically mean a full lockdown or any other specific measures. But it does give the government the legal power to put in place many measures that would normally be illegal or unconstitutional, such as a curfew, whether locally as called for by some Northern mayors, or nationally.
Legal challenge against local travel ban
That question of legality has been raised already in relation to the local travel ban in place until 6am Tuesday morning, Público reports. André Ventura, head of far-right party Chega, has challenged the restrictions on leaving your council area, claiming it violates the principles of equality and universality and the rights to worship and to family. The Supreme Court on Thursday gave the government 24 hours to respond, if it wants, to the populist politician’s legal attempt to suspend the measures. He had argued the constitution only allowed the measure to be taken under a state of emergency. The court can delay its final decision until Monday, which would leave just hours before the restrictions were due to be lifted anyway.
Reminder: You can’t leave your municipality between today and 6am on Tuesday. More details in Wednesday’s newsletter.
Source: ECDC
Budget approved in principle
After weeks of negotiating and even talk of a political crisis, the 2021 national budget has been approved in principle, Diário de Notícias reports. The vote was tight, with only the governing Socialist Party (PS) voting in favour against the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Left Bloc (BE), CDS – People's Party CDS, and Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal), while several smaller parties and two independent MPs abstained. Prime Minister António Costa said an important step had been taken to respond to the crisis “without leaving anyone behind”. Specific changes to the budget are still likely before the final vote on November 26 and several of the parties have warned they may not abstain from voting again.
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In brief
Economy recovers 13.2% in the third quarter. GDP is still 5.8% below the same period last year. (Público)
Vehicles can fail inspection for being too dirty. If a car is dirty enough to hinder the inspection, new Institute for Mobility and Transport rules say it should be failed. (Público)
Madeira: masks in public for over sixes and quarantined tourists to pay for hotel rooms. The Madeiran government has spent almost €20 million on tests and accommodation since airports reopened in June. (Público)
83,000 jobs gone thanks to the pandemic, almost half among the under 25s. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
I’m sure it violates some sort of Christmas rule but I really couldn’t care less. The Christmas lights are going up early at Lisboa’s Armazéns do Chiado. Really early. The central Lisbon shopping centre says Christmas starts tomorrow, to avoid too many people flocking to the shops at once. It’s probably just a marketing ploy but an extra month’s worth of festive lights feels like exactly the sort of thing we need this year.
Photo: Jorge Branco
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