Portugal's general discussion (general events)

[CumbrianLefty]

This is just... whatever.

Modernization of the Beira-Alta railroad line will take longer than its actual construction back in the 19th century

Ah, quite a lot of your stuff does sound familiar to us

[Mike88]

This is just... whatever.

Modernization of the Beira-Alta railroad line will take longer than its actual construction back in the 19th century

Ah, quite a lot of your stuff does sound familiar to us

The UK also has railway upgrade projects that are lasting ages? Here, the government has a railway upgrade plan called "Ferrovia 2020", launched in 2016, in which everything was expected to be completed by 2021. As of now, just 15% is completed.

[Mike88]

Almost 600 police officers accused of racial hate crimes on social media. The government is already investigating these claims:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1593002527720513541

Almost 600 GNR and PSP operatives commit hate crimes on social media. 591 representatives of the security forces who are part of a database to which the Consortium of Portuguese Investigative Journalists, of which SIC is a member

A report, aired on SIC TV, showed that several police officers, almost 600, are committing hate crimes on social media and making threats to several personalities:

(...)
They are active and act online, most assume their own name. They ask for "selective cleaning". They say there are "so many people to slaughter". They insult the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and several party leaders. They offer shots, promise to mutilate people, describe in sordid detail the rape of a journalist. They call Gypsies an "undesirable race". They assume they are racist.
(...)

The interior minister has already announced that an investigation regarding this matter has already started, adding that, at least since 2018, 4 police officers were suspended and 2 others expelled from the police. A few others are sill being investigated.

[Mike88]

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) website, the definitive/final results of the 2021 Census will be published next week, on 23 November.

I assume that these final results will have religion data and more detailed population numbers. Also, we'll see if there are changes in the population estimates as some local officials across the country complained to INE that some population numbers didn't add up with their local data.

[Mike88]

Social Security attacked by hackers. Police is already investigating but there's no info, yet, if millions of people's data has been affected:

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1594661672870088704

Social Security was the target of a cyberattack

Social Security was the target of a cyberattack, reports TVI/CNN Portugal this Monday. The information is contained in an email sent by the Institute of Informatics to Social Security officials, in which it is mentioned that, so far, no facts have been found that allow concluding that "there has been undue access to data of citizens or companies."

In the email to which the news channel had access, the date on which the cyberattack took place is not mentioned, but TVI / CNN Portugal indicates that it is recent. Yes, the email confirms an "intentional and malicious intrusion into your computer network",

Social Security officials are asked to "understand" and "comply with all protective actions that are requested".
(...)

[Mike88]

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE) website, the definitive/final results of the 2021 Census will be published next week, on 23 November.

Final and definitive 2021 Census results:

Population: 10,343,066 inhabitants (-219,112 compared with 2011)

5,422,846 Women (52.43%)
4,920,220 Men (47.57%)

Foreign population in Portugal: 542,314 inhabitants (5.24%)

Main countries of origin:

199,810 Brazil (36.84%)
  31,556 Angola (5.82%)
  27,144 Cape Verde (5.01%)
  24,609 UK (4.54%)
  21,199 Ukraine (3.91%)
  19,064 France (3.52%)
  16,631 China (3.07%)
  15,928 Guinea-Bissau (2.94%)
186,373 Other countries (34.35%)

Population by age:

53.2% 25-64 years old
23.4% 55+
12.9% 0-14
10.5% 15-24

Number of families: 4,154,571 (+2.6% compared with 2011)

Size of families: (%)

33.29% 2 Persons
24.74% 1 Person
21.53% 3 Persons
14.73% 4 Persons
  5.58% 5 Persons or more

Number of buildings: 3,573,416 (of these, 35.78% in need of repairs)

Year of Construction of buildings:

66.49% Prior to 1990
30.40% Between 1991 and 2010
  3.11% After 2011

Population by literacy:

96.9% Can read and/or write
  3.1% Can't read and/or write

No reports of the religion data yet. Hope they will also post it in the INE website.

[Mike88]

No reports of the religion data yet. Hope they will also post it in the INE website.

Found it. Some news outlets are publishing the data:

2021 Census, Religion: (compared with 2011)

80.2% Roman Catholic (-0.8%)
  2.1% Protestant/Evangelical (+1.3%)
  0.7% Jehovah Witness (new)
  0.7% Orthodox Church (+0.1%)
  1.0% Other Christian
  0.4% Islam (+0.2%)
  0.2% Hinduism (new)
  0.2% Budism (new)
  0.0% Judaism (-0.0%)
  0.3% Other religions (-0.0%)
14.1% No religion (+7.3%)

I'm surprised by the stable numbers of the Catholics. Recent studies pointed to a significant drop of Catholics, but the Census results are debunking those studies.

[Mike88]

More 2021 Census data:

Use of personal car increases in the last decade, and less people use public transportation:

The Portuguese population that commutes on a daily basis for work or study prefers to take a light car to get around, either as a driver or as a passenger. The conclusion results from the 2021 Census, whose definitive results were released this Wednesday by INE and which reveal that 47.9% of residents traveled in a light car as a driver and 18.1% in a light car as a passenger. These are values above those verified in 2011 (of 43.7% and 17.9%, respectively).

Bicycles "represent just over 1% of the use of transport in these commuting movements", said the chairman of the INE's Board of Directors, Francisco Lima, at the press conference to present the results.
(...)

[Mike88]

35 arrested in Alentejo for heading a human traffic network that forced immigrants to work as slaves in plantations across Alentejo:

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1595422201280241664

It's a TVI/CNN Portugal exclusive: 35 people were arrested this morning, in a mega-operation by the Judiciary Police to dismantle a human trafficking network in the Alentejo.
The detainees are suspected of soliciting people in Eastern Europe,

The Judiciary Police (PJ) carried out a mega-operation that involved more than 400 elements and 65 searches in the Alentejo and aimed at an immigrant trafficking network in Beja, advances CNN Portugal. 35 people were arrested as part of this operation.

In a statement, released later this morning, the PJ confirms that an operation was carried out "in several cities and parishes in the Baixo Alentejo region" and that 35 people were arrested. “Suspects aged between 22 and 58 years old, of foreign and Portuguese nationality, are strongly indicted for the commission of crimes of criminal association, human trafficking, money laundering, forgery of documents, between others".
(...)
According to the network, which reported the news, the network was organized in the district of Beja and the victims were from Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine or Romania, as well as from India, Pakistan or Timor. Citizens were enticed to come to Portugal, where they were promised a salary, good working conditions and accommodation.

However, according to CNN, employers kept victims' wages and workers were subjected to heavy work with little rest and threatened with physical violence. Families in the country of origin were also threatened.

[Mike88]

1 dead and 7 injured after a wave hits army cadets in the early hours of the morning in Póvoa de Varzim:

https://twitter.com/cmjornal/status/1596141328777170944

Videos - Drone footage shows where young soldiers were dragged into the sea in Póvoa de Varzim

The body of the young soldier who disappeared early this Friday at Lagoa Beach in Póvoa de Varzim was removed from the sea by the Portuguese Air Force helicopter, around 4:00 pm.

The body was located in the water about half an hour before the rescue, which was carried out by a diver who got out of the helicopter.

Seven other young people, all soldiers in training at the Portuguese Army Services School, in Póvoa de Varzim, had also been swept away by the waves, but ended up leaving unharmed.

“Eight young people were on the beach and got caught in the waves. Seven managed to get out on their own feet and were transported to Póvoa Hospital and a girl aged around 20 is missing”, said this morning the captain of Porto and local Commander of the Maritime Police of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde.
(...)
According to the Army, the eight soldiers “left a nightlife establishment, where they went to socialize, and decided to go to the waterline of Lagoa beach in Póvoa de Varzim”, having been dragged by a wave.
(...)

[Mike88]

More 2021 Census results: Population by district and regions, compared with 2011.

2021 Census, Population by district:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     700,787 Aveiro (-13,413)
     144,401 Beja (-8,357)
     846,293 Braga (-1,892)
     122,804 Braganza (-13,448)
     177,962 Castelo Branco (-18,302)
     408,551 Coimbra (-21,553)
     152,444 Évora (-14,282)
     467,343 Faro (+16,337)
     142,974 Guarda (-17,965)
     458,605 Leiria (-12,325)
  2,275,385 Lisbon (+24,852)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
     104,923 Portalegre (-13,583)
  1,785,405 Porto (-31,767)
     424,973 Santarém (-28,665)
     874,806 Setúbal (+23,548)
     231,266 Viana do Castelo (-13,570)
     185,695 Vila Real (-20,966)
     351,292 Viseu (-26,361)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

2021 Census, Population by region:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     704,533 Alentejo (-52,769)
     467,343 Algarve (+16,337)
  2,227,239 Centro (-100,516)
  2,870,208 Lisbon (+48,332)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
  3,586,586 Norte (-103,096)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

Of the 20 districts in the country, just 3, Lisbon, Faro and Setúbal, had population growth. The rest had a big decline in population. The only expection, in this group, is Braga district which just lost almost 1,900 inhabitants, as the massive population growth of Braga city was able to offset the big population declines in more rural villages in the district.

Of the 7 regions, just 2 grew and they match the few districts that saw their population grow.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

More 2021 Census results: Population by district and regions, compared with 2011.

2021 Census, Population by district:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     700,787 Aveiro (-13,413)
     144,401 Beja (-8,357)
     846,293 Braga (-1,892)
     122,804 Braganza (-13,448)
     177,962 Castelo Branco (-18,302)
     408,551 Coimbra (-21,553)
     152,444 Évora (-14,282)
     467,343 Faro (+16,337)
     142,974 Guarda (-17,965)
     458,605 Leiria (-12,325)
  2,275,385 Lisbon (+24,852)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
     104,923 Portalegre (-13,583)
  1,785,405 Porto (-31,767)
     424,973 Santarém (-28,665)
     874,806 Setúbal (+23,548)
     231,266 Viana do Castelo (-13,570)
     185,695 Vila Real (-20,966)
     351,292 Viseu (-26,361)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

2021 Census, Population by region:

     236,413 Azores (-10,359)
     704,533 Alentejo (-52,769)
     467,343 Algarve (+16,337)
  2,227,239 Centro (-100,516)
  2,870,208 Lisbon (+48,332)
     250,744 Madeira (-17,041)
  3,586,586 Norte (-103,096)

10,343,066 Total Portugal (-219,112)

Of the 20 districts in the country, just 3, Lisbon, Faro and Setúbal, had population growth. The rest had a big decline in population. The only expection, in this group, is Braga district which just lost almost 1,900 inhabitants, as the massive population growth of Braga city was able to offset the big population declines in more rural villages in the district.

Of the 7 regions, just 2 grew and they match the few districts that saw their population grow.

The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.

[Mike88]

The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.

2021 Census: Parish map with changes 2021 vs 2011.


https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html
Orange for increase, Blue for Decrease.

Image link

This map shows the clear emptying of rural Portugal. In the more rural districts, only the main cities have increases, and even those are very modest and, in some cases, they basically stagnate or even have small decreases.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The declines in Vila Real, Portalegre, Garda, and Evora are utterly brutal. Ouch.

2021 Census: Parish map with changes 2021 vs 2011.


https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html
Orange for increase, Blue for Decrease.

Image link

This map shows the clear emptying of rural Portugal. In the more rural districts, only the main cities have increases, and even those are very modest and, in some cases, they basically stagnate or even have small decreases.

Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

[Mike88]

Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.

I was thinking that rural Portugal's woes are from older people dying off. I was not aware that people often forgot to change their registration, but that might be a by-product of the fact that local-based representation does not seem to matter in Portugal. I would guess that there's little incentive for people to change registration as a result of that. In which case, my thesis looks correct but for slightly different reasons than I imagined.

[Mike88]

Obrigado for the interesting map.
It looks likely that the district magnitudes of some rural Portuguese constituencies in the parliament will shrink as the decade goes on.

That's an interesting point and a curious one, because voters rolls don't add up with the population in some districts, mainly rural ones. Take Vila Real district for example, according to the Interior ministry, the district has around 210,000 registered voters, but the Census says it has less than 186,000 inhabitants. Why does this happens? Because, many residents left the country but didn't changed their address and they continue registered in their home parishes. And because, Parliamentary and local seats are distributed by the number of registered voters and not by population, rural districts are still benefited a bit. Otherwise, if seats were allocated by population, districts like Vila Real, Braganza, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora and Beja would lose seats to the big districts of Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Setúbal and Faro.

I was thinking that rural Portugal's woes are from older people dying off. I was not aware that people often forgot to change their registration, but that might be a by-product of the fact that local-based representation does not seem to matter in Portugal. I would guess that there's little incentive for people to change registration as a result of that. In which case, my thesis looks correct but for slightly different reasons than I imagined.

Yes, rural areas have a very elderly population, some parishes even have zero children and are just inhabited by elderly people with ages around 80-90 years old. But, the people who leave these districts are more younger and they tend to immigrate in order to have more opportunities and a better quality of life. For legal reasons and also deep emotional attachment to their native parish, many people living abroad decide to not change their address.

This has implications in elections of course. But, here there's also an interesting trend: In general elections, turnout is quite low in rural districts, 40-50%, as the national government is seen as a distant entity, while local elections have much higher turnouts, 60-70%, as many people living abroad return to Portugal to cast a ballot and because local government, in rural areas, is seen as much more important than the national government.

[Mike88]

Lisbon city implements Tsunami sirens in the river side:

https://twitter.com/CamaraLisboa/status/1596474259274346496

Do you know what sound this is?
Tsunami warning and warning exercise.

The Lisbon City Hall presented this Saturday the Tsunami Warning and Alert System in the Tagus Estuary, with the installation of sirens in Empire Square and Ribeira das Naus and the definition of evacuation routes.

"The phenomenon of climate change imposes an increased urgency on us today to prepare Lisbon for major occurrences or catastrophes, such as tsunamis", said the Civil Protection councilor, Ângelo Pereira (PSD), in the presentation of the project, which took place at the Museum of Arte Popular, where an evacuation exercise was carried out, with the activation of a sound signal.

The project includes the installation of a population warning system, with two sirens and two digital information panels in Praça do Império and Ribeira das Naus, and vertical signs for emergency evacuation (evacuation routes and meeting points), which are combined with actions to raise awareness and inform the public about the risk of a tsunami in the city.
(...)

[Mike88]

The 2022 drought could be ending as NASA pictures show a "greener" Portugal after weeks of heavy rain and floods:

https://twitter.com/MeteoTrasMontPT/status/1596208214336745472

Water is life!
Green is back!
This is how you see our country from space!
September 22, 2022 VS November 25, 2022

In the image it is possible to see that between the 22nd of September and the 25th of November a large part of the Portuguese territory, especially in the interior and south, gained a greener color due to the growth of vegetation.

The origin is in the rain that has been felt over the last few months.

[Mike88]

Chaos in Hospitals: Emergency teams in 2 major hospitals in the Lisbon metro area resign due to lack of working conditions.

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1597696161879842816

ER. Two hospitals in Lisbon without managers

First, it was the team leaders and deputy heads of the Emergency Department at Garcia de Orta Hospital who announced their resignation. It was Monday night, and even the meeting held with the administration on Tuesday morning did not change this decision. This Tuesday, it was the team leaders and assistant leaders of the teams of the Emergency Medical Service of the Fernando Fonseca Hospital (Amadora-Sintra) who followed the example.

The reasons are the same: scales with a minimum number of professionals, which "jeopardizes the quality of care and the safety of users", as stated by the Amadora-Sintra doctors in a letter sent to the Independent Doctors Union (SIM), and disclosed by this. In 24 hours, two of the large units in the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon lost their leadership of the Emergency Services.
(...)
It should be recalled that the new team from the Ministry of Health presented last week a Winter Response Contingency Plan, with 176 health centers already having extended hours to stop unjustified trips to hospital emergency rooms, but in these two units, it still doesn't seem to be having any effect.

In the case of professionals at Garcia de Orta, the doctors who signed the letter addressed to the clinical director, the president of the board of directors and the director of the Emergency Service, explained that, in the planned scale, there are several days with a number of elements below of the minimum to guarantee the proper functioning of the service.
(...)

[Mike88]

Inflation drops 0.2% compared with October to 9.9%:

https://twitter.com/tEconomics/status/1597885880928280576

The country’s inflation decreased to 9.9% in November, putting an end to the trend seen in recent months and retreating from double-digit figures, according to a flash estimate from Statistics Portugal (INE) released Wednesday.

“Based on the information available until the date of the present press release, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual rate is estimated to have decreased to 9.9% in November (10.1% in October),” INE revealed.
(...)
However, the estimated rate for unprocessed food declined to 18.4% (18.9%, October), while the processed food rate is expected to have risen to 16.8% (14.1%, October).

As for the Portuguese Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) annual rate of change, it is estimated to have decreased to 10.3% (10.6%, October).

This is a flash estimate from INE, with final CPI data for November 2022 to be published on December 14.

[Mike88]

Algarve region hit by big floods during the weekend that left a lot of damage:

Bad weather hit the Algarve hard and in Quarteira there are already reports of flooded stores, cellars and garages, as well as completely flooded streets. On Vasco da Gama Street, one of the most affected, the force of the rain even destroyed part of the road.

Civil Protection and firefighters managed to ease the situation, but even so, the most critical period should coincide with the peak of high tide: around 00:30 on Monday.

To CNN Portugal, some residents told that they had difficulties in contacting the means of assistance because the calls "were always going down".

During the afternoon of this Sunday, the Civil Protection had already issued a warning to the population, valid until Monday, warning of the risk of flooding in urban areas, floods and landslides.
(...)

https://twitter.com/MeteoTrasMontPT/status/1599705971345231873

https://twitter.com/MeteoTrasMontPT/status/1599771796990922752

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1599535338879586305

[Mike88]

Évora city chosen to be European Capital of Culture in 2027, alongside Liepaja in Latvia:

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1600534126729519105

Évora will be European Capital of Culture in 2027

Évora will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, along with Liepaja, in Latvia, it was announced this Wednesday, at a press conference in Lisbon, at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), in Lisbon.

Among the other four district capitals in competition - Aveiro, Braga and Ponta Delgada - Évora was chosen to receive the title of European Capital of Culture. The announcement was made by the president of the international jury, Beatriz Garcia.

After Lisbon, in 1994, Porto, in 2001 and Guimarães, in 2012, this will be the fourth time that a Portuguese city is selected for this European project.

The city of Évora will have a financial allocation of 29 million euros from national and European funds, as revealed in October by the Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva.
(...)

[Mike88]

Massive floods this evening in the Lisbon area. Authorities say that, so far, one person has died.

Tunnels, Subway stations, Businesses and several streets across the city are flooded. Shopping Malls were also evacuated. The airport has also been hit and has suffered damages.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1600652210773557248

*In the last clip of the video, a group of people are naked and singing in the middle of the water.

[VPH]

Évora city chosen to be European Capital of Culture in 2027, alongside Liepaja in Latvia:

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1600534126729519105

Évora will be European Capital of Culture in 2027

Évora will be the European Capital of Culture in 2027, along with Liepaja, in Latvia, it was announced this Wednesday, at a press conference in Lisbon, at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB), in Lisbon.

Among the other four district capitals in competition - Aveiro, Braga and Ponta Delgada - Évora was chosen to receive the title of European Capital of Culture. The announcement was made by the president of the international jury, Beatriz Garcia.

After Lisbon, in 1994, Porto, in 2001 and Guimarães, in 2012, this will be the fourth time that a Portuguese city is selected for this European project.

The city of Évora will have a financial allocation of 29 million euros from national and European funds, as revealed in October by the Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva.
(...)

Évora is lovely. Took a road trip down there this summer and then over into Badajoz.