Stories from Lisbon · Portugal

Luís Cabral stated that funds are being spent on nighttime helicopter transport, which remains a limited activity. A proposal regarding this issue has been presented to Minister Ana Paula Martins as part of the INEM operational model redesign.

Minister José Luiz Carneiro stated that budget execution numbers fail to disaggregate investments by project, promoter, or financing line. He noted that the Socialist Party (PS) government implemented robust and rapid measures when inflation rose at the start of the war in Ukraine. These measures included the adoption of VAT reductions on food items. The minister's comments followed discussions with farmers in Beja regarding previous government actions. Luís Mira of the CAPT stated that current government measures do not guarantee the competitiveness of Portuguese farmers against Spanish neighbors. Mira noted that Spain allocated 500 million for fertilizer increases, which represents 4% of the amount compared to the Portuguese response. The critic argued that the Portuguese measures are insufficient and arrived two months later than the Spanish support.

Labor unions in Portugal are organizing May Day demonstrations in Lisbon. A Porto Ata report released today indicates Portugal has the fifth highest weekly working hours in the European Union. Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets across Portugal on May 1.

José Luiz Carneiro, a leader of the Socialist Party (PS), accused Prime Minister Luís Montenegro of insensitivity regarding the rising cost of living. Carneiro stated that the Prime Minister is disconnected from reality.

Portugal is among the European Union countries with the highest working hours but among the lowest productivity levels. Labor unions UGT and CGTP have scheduled various protests across northern and southern Portugal for Labor Day.

The concentration of cocaine metabolites in Portuguese rivers has been increasing, according to a report from the Institute for Addictions (ICAD). This rise in river levels suggests an increase in cocaine consumption within the country.

Claudia Alves identified approximately 40 nurses in the Portuguese Red Cross archives who volunteered for service in France during World War I. These nurses established a hospital that opened on the day of a battle. The discovery highlights the previously undocumented role of Portuguese women in the conflict. A film titled Damas explores the contributions of Portuguese nurses during the Great War. The hospital was established to address high casualty rates and medical needs during the conflict.

The employment rate for foreigners in Portugal has exceeded the rate for national citizens. Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro stated there are no reasons for alarm regarding the increase. The government is preparing various possibilities to address the cost of living based on economic evolution. The Prime Minister noted that announcing measures prematurely would be ineffective as they depend on the evolution of economic constants. He noted that the government will not announce specific measures before they are applied to avoid premature declarations. Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro addressed the increase, stating the government is attentive to the rising cost of living for Portuguese citizens. Montenegro expressed empathy regarding the impact of inflation on the population. The inflation rate in Portugal accelerated to 3.4 percent in April.

The national minimum wage in Portugal tripled between 1995 and 2025. This figure is significantly lower than the European Union average of 3,317.3 euros across 27 member states. In Portugal, nearly 13% of employees are on fixed-term contracts. Nearly 13% of workers in the EU-27 work long hours, with the highest rates in the Netherlands, Poland, France, and Spain. Portugal ranks as the fourth country with the highest level of job precariousness among youth, where almost four in ten workers under age 30 hold temporary contracts. Studies reveal the adjusted average salary in Portugal was 2,068.20 euros in 2024. Additionally, 27.13% of workers in Portugal are on temporary contracts. Approximately 4 in 10 workers under the age of 30 in Portugal hold temporary contracts. The report was released on International Workers' Day, according to journalist António José Soares.

Prime Minister António Costa appears to recognize that labor reform is not a priority for the national government. Carneiro stated on May 1 that the government's attempt to denigrate the proposal is unacceptable. He urged the Prime Minister to show lucidity and courage by removing the reform from the table. The National Political Commission of the Socialist Party (PS) criticized Prime Minister Luís Montenegro regarding labor reform. Commission member Carneiro stated that Montenegro is disconnected from reality. The commission further claimed the Prime Minister has accepted that the country does not require the proposed labor reform and will likely retreat from the position. Montenegro reportedly admitted during a fortnightly debate that the country will not end if the labor law is not changed. The request follows reasons cited during a strike on December 11.