Welcome to the Week em Breve, a wrap-up of important Portuguese news to keep you up to date and in the know.
Changes to “foreigners’ law” ruled unconstitutional, vetoed by the president
The Constitutional Court announced on Friday that proposed amendments to the “Foreigners’ Law” were unconstitutional, meaning none of the changes approved by parliament on July 16 will take effect.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has returned the policy package to parliament, which will adjust elements that were deemed “inconsistent with the Constitution,” the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, told journalists.
The proposal aimed to alter how prospective immigrants get work visas and restrict family reunification requests, among other changes.
While these specific adjustments have been sent back to parliament, the Minister of the Presidency clarified that “there will be more immigration regulation in all these channels, including family reunification,” ECO reports.
Portugal extends “state of alert” as another heatwave hits
The Portuguese government extended its state of alert (situação de alerta) until August 13 due to the ongoing high risk of fire.
The alert, originally due to end on August 7, restricts access to forests, bans burning and other rural work, and prohibits the use of fireworks, among other measures.
Speaking at a press conference, Minister of Internal Administration Maria Lúcia Amaral said:
“All behaviors count in reducing the risk of fire, and it is very important that everyone understands this need to take part in order to avoid risk.”
The extension comes as Portugal sweats through yet another heat wave, which is expected to last for at least half of August, Público reports.
Wildfires continue to burn in many parts of the country, with almost 2000 firefighters and several hundred vehicles actively battling flames as of this morning, Público reports.
Contaminated seawater closes beaches
Swimming was briefly banned at three beaches in the Algarve last week due to contamination.
Verde, Verde Lago, and Alagoa-Altura beaches closed after bathing water tests discovered bacteria that are normally found in human intestines – i.e., fecal contamination, Público reports.
The exact cause of the contamination is not yet known, but problems with sewage discharge are one possibility, Ana Cristina Guerreiro, the Algarve Regional Health Delegate, told Público.
A similar situation in Nazaré last weekend caused more than 100 people to seek hospital treatment, Euronews reported.
Doctors had attended 44 children and 26 adults by the end of Saturday with symptoms including vomiting, nausea, and diarrhoea.
Nazaré beach closed due to the sewage contamination on Friday (Aug 1) but was open the following day, with the local council saying by then there were “no signs of macroscopic organic constituents.”
Evictions increased by 14% but real number is likely much higher
Between January and May, the number of evictions in Portugal increased by 14%, with Lisbon accounting for 21% of the total, Renascença reports.
The true number is likely to be much higher as many leases are undeclared, the president of the Lisbon Tenants Association, Pedro Ventura, told Renascença.
“We know perfectly well that the number of evictions is much higher,” he said to the station.
The most visible evictions have been in the Talude neighbourhood, where the Loures municipality demolished numerous shacks, leaving dozens of families homeless, according to reports at the time.
Foreigners voting in upcoming local elections
Registration to vote in local elections closes tomorrow, meaning if you’re a foreigner wanting to take part, you need to get to your parish council (Junta de Freguesia) today.
To find out whether you’re eligible and what to do if you are, take a look at A Mensagem’s comprehensive guide.
Despite many foreigners being eligible to vote in Portugal, some have struggled to register because Parish Council officials are unfamiliar with people’s rights, Público reports.
Citizens of Lusophone countries, such as Brazil and Cape Verde, with legal residence in Portugal for more than 2 years, are eligible to vote, but several Brazilians have reported difficulty.
Immigrant associations are urging foreigners to engage with local elections at a time when anti-immigration messages in Portugal are rife.
