Portugal's general discussion (general events)

[Mike88]

Truck found under water near Setúbal city. Police believes it's involved in drug trafficking:

https://twitter.com/cmjornal/status/1398585832374636547

Portugal - Traffickers truck abandoned in Setúbal.

A truck that was used to transport a fast speedboat for collecting drugs on the high seas was abandoned at dawn this Saturday, on the ramp of whales, on the river Sado, in Setúbal.

The heavy vehicle, with galley and Spanish license plate tractor, would have been stuck after the traffickers were surprised by the rising tide.

As the CM reported on several occasions, powerful speedboats, with three outboard engines, are transported from Spain or warehouses in Portugal within the truck crowd.

They are dropped into the water at night, with tons of fuel, and will collect the drug from 'mother ships' on the high seas. The drug, which may be cocaine or hashish, is then transported to another location on land and the speedboats collected.

In October last year, another truck was found in the same location under the same circumstances. In March, the Maritime Police seized a speedboat in Alverca, in the Tagus, and detained five people involved in the operation.

They had thousands of euros and satellite phones.

What?? This is so weird.

[Mike88]

2021 Census update:

Today, 31 May, is the last day to return Census questionnaires. According to INE, the Statistic Institute of Portugal, 87.6% of the population responded to the Census by the internet. Just 0.4% filed paper Census questionnaires, and 0.3% by phone. 11.7% used other ways like local parish supports, for example.

During June, INE will contact people who have not yet responded to the Census, although that number is very, very small. By August, it's expected a very early release of data from the Census.

[Mike88]

Census 2021 update:

The media and some mayors are revealing some early data from the Census:

- Mafra city mayor, Lisbon district, says the municipality saw a 13% rise in population compared with 2011, and has, in 2021, around 86,500 inhabitants;

- Gaia city mayor, Porto district, also said the early Census data showed that the population in Gaia municipality grew around 5,000 people to 305,000 inhabitants in 2021;

- On the contrary, the Madeira islands are set to have a drop in population. In an interview to RTP Madeira, the INE representative said the population dropped around 16,000 from 2011 to 2021, which means the region has around 252,000 inhabitants now;

[Mike88]

Faro airport is "fludded" with desperate British tourists trying to leave the Algarve as Portugal leaves the UK's green list Tuesday morning:

https://twitter.com/cmjornal/status/1401210627117441030

Society - Hundreds of Britons invade Faro airport to return to the UK and avoid quarantine

Hundreds of British invaded this Saturday Faro Airport to return to the UK.

The 'invasion' is due to the fact that the United Kingdom has removed Portugal from the travel green list after the increase in cases in recent days and, as a consequence, those who do not return to the country before 4:00 am on Tuesday will be forced to do so. quarantine.

To avoid quarantine, hundreds are now fleeing our country back home. This caused a high turnout to the airport with long waiting lines.

[Mike88]

Ajuda Palace is finally completed 226 years later. The west wing of the palace was inaugurated today and the Royal Museum will open in November:

https://twitter.com/dntwit/status/1401949592359374848

New wing of Palácio da Ajuda: Costa praises "taxes and little taxes" in Lisbon

The President of the Republic and the prime minister today inaugurated the new wing of the Ajuda Palace, with António Costa stressing that "the bulk of the investment" came from the "taxes and little taxes" of tourism in Lisbon.

The 31 million investment needed to complete the west wing that will house the future Royal Treasury Museum - which will open to the public in November - are the result of an agreement between the State, Lisbon Tourism and the capital city council, which 'entered' with 17 million from the tourism development fund.
(...)
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on the other hand, preferred to point out that, 226 years after the laying of the foundation stone for the Ajuda National Palace, the completion of the new wing represents "if not a historic moment, a moment in which history is made".

"For some, this fact will invite patriotic meditations, more or less masochistic, about our delays, inefficiencies or budgetary insufficiencies. For others, and the President of the Republic is among them, this ceremony recalls the historical continuity of Portugal and the appeased relationship , without ceasing to be critical, that we can or should have with history," he highlighted.

The President of the Republic defended that the crown jewels will be in the museum "not as icons of the monarchy, but as legacies and symbols not only of political power, but of the continuity of sovereignty".
(...)

The original project of the palace, from the early 19th century, would have made it as one of the biggest palaces in Europe, but like almost all projects in Portugal, events, lack of money and bad management only made it possible to built around 1/3 of the original plan.

[Mike88]

Fuel prices at the highest level in 8 years:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1401889539787046917

Gasoline price reaches its highest price in the last 8 years.

Experts warn that fuel prices will continue to rise.

Those who need to refuel will have already noticed that fuels are more expensive. The week starts with a new rise in prices, similar to what has happened in recent months.

Diesel rose a cent and a half and gasoline rose a cent per liter. Experts warn that the trend is for prices to continue to rise.

With each climb, consumers look for the cheapest sites. Prices are different on a motorway or a national road. They vary by brand and of course also fluctuate when there are promotions or discount coupons.

The average is 1,65 euros per liter for gasoline and 1,46 euros for diesel.

[Mike88]

2021 Census update:

- São João da Madeira (Aveiro district) mayor has announced that the early data from this municipality shows that the population grew by around 2% compared with 2011. The mayor says that the data shows the São João da Madeira now has 22,251 inhabitants, 562 more than in 2011.

[Mike88]

INE: Population grows in 2020 to 10,298,252 inhabitants.

https://twitter.com/ECO_PT/status/1404384192205578243

Portugal's population grows in 2020 despite Covid-19.

The resident population in Portugal increased by 2,343 people last year, compared to the previous year, reaching 10,298,252 people. The positive migration balance in 2020 offset the deaths, which were aggravated by Covid-19, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Due to the positive migration balance, the resident population in the country increased by 41,274 people (compared to 44,506 people in 2019). This growth “offset the negative natural balance”, which worsened in 2020 to a reduction of 38,931 people, a drop greater than the 25,214 people registered in the previous year.

2020 was even the fourth consecutive year of positive migration balance. INE points out that international migratory movements “recorded some dynamics” despite the pandemic, “a total of 67,160 permanent immigrants are estimated (against 72,725 in 2019) and 25,886 permanent emigrants (28,219 in 2019)”.
(...)

This is only an estimation, not related with the Census which the early data is expected by August.

[Mike88]

Trial of disgraced banker Ricardo Salgado once again postponed:

https://twitter.com/ojeconomico/status/1404374315592667143

Ricardo Salgado's trial again postponed

The trial of former banker Ricardo Salgado has been postponed to July 6th, reports RTP this Monday, June 14th.

This is the second time that the start of the trial in the scope of the Marquês Operation process of the leader of the former Banco Espírito Santo (BES) has been postponed.

The first time, the trial was adjourned at the defense's request for not having yet delivered to the court the challenge to the facts for which the accused is accused.

This time, the Public Ministry asked for the postponement as it needed more time to precisely analyze the defense delivered by the former banker's defense.

"The defense of Ricardo Salgado had already warned about the extension of the documents and the Public Prosecutor's Office will have to exercise the contradictory", said Adriano Squilacce, one of those responsible for the banker's defense when leaving the court at the Lisbon Campus of Justice heard by RTP .

Former banker Ricardo Salgado, 76, will be tried for three crimes of breach of trust, due to the transfer of more than 10 million euros.

Ricardo Salgado was charged by the Public Ministry of 21 crimes, including active corruption, money laundering, document falsification and qualified tax fraud.

However, investigating judge Ivo Rosa ruled Ricardo Salgado solely for three crimes of breach of trust, a related and separate proceeding from Operation Marquês, according to Lusa news agency.

[Mike88]

Covid-19: Computer bug compromised the data from positive tests in pilot-events:

https://twitter.com/Publico/status/1404551050107965442

Shows: "Computer problem" does not let us know if there were positive cases in the pilot-events

The shows sector associations have had regular meetings with the DGS and the Government, the last one last Friday, and they say they still await more information.
(...)
More than a month later, the conclusions of these pilot events have not yet been released.

According to Álvaro Covões, from the direction of the Association of Promoters of Shows, Festivals and Events (APEFE), the DGS informed the associations on Friday that it had "a computer problem" with the data of spectators who participated in the pilot events.

In statements to the Public, the promoter clarified what had happened. According to him, “the Red Cross had the data” and “they weren't able to process them by computer.” Now, the organizing associations will have to send “the user number” of each spectator to “try to complement” the information. "We have no doubts that there are no positive cases. All the people who participated in the four events tested negative", he assures.

APEFE now wants further clarification from the Directorate-General for Health on the obligation to carry out tests for covid-19 at cultural events, and regrets the lack of information.
(...)

This is ridiculous.

[Mike88]

Massive search to find a missing little boy in Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1405200033012752385

GNR and PJ look for missing two-year-old child in Proença-a-Velha

Searches for Noah continue, but with no clues as to the two-year-old boy's possible whereabouts. The child was reported missing on Wednesday morning, in the area of Proença-a-Velha, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, by the mother, who woke up to find her son missing. So far, only one item of clothing has been found, the family dog, who authorities believe to have accompanied the minor, and the footprints of a child.

At the moment, 72 GNR soldiers, air resources and cynotechnic elements are in place. The device "was readjusted" and efforts are now focused on the area where, overnight, a child's footprints were found, said Jorge Massano, communication and public relations officer of the Territorial Command of the GNR in Castelo Branco, during a briefing held during the morning of this Thursday.

As he explained to journalists present at the site, after questions posed by SIC, it is a sector very close to the place where the garment and the dog that accompanied Noah were found, two or three kilometers from the family's house. There are several wells in the area, some of which are sealed but others are not, which led the authorities to ask for the collaboration of the GNR divers teams.
(...)
Parents of the child heard by the PJ. They have the habit of leaving the house door unlocked

According to Correio da Manhã, Noah's parents were meanwhile heard by the PJ. They described the child as agile and able to put on wellies. He once followed his father to the agricultural field where he usually works, which is why his mother searched close to home before alerting the authorities. According to the same newspaper, parents have the habit of leaving the door unlocked.

Noah's older sister was also heard by agents. Her testimony coincided with that of her parents, reported the Correio da Manhã.

PJ leans to thesis of "accidental disappearance"

The PJ is inclined to the thesis of an “accidental disappearance”, Expresso reports. According to the newspaper, although it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions, the inspectors believe there is no evidence that the child has been a victim of criminal action. A source heard by Expresso recalled that it would not be the first time that Noah would leave the house behind his father, who usually leaves home early.
(...)

[Mike88]

Massive search to find a missing little boy in Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco:

Update in this story:

The little boy missing was found alive around 4 kms from his parents house, but the police says he may have walked around 10 kms:

https://twitter.com/JornalNoticias/status/1405629084227411968

Noah was walking naked when he was found by people.

Thirty-six hours later, Noah, the baby missing in Proença-a-Velha, was found alive in the searched area, the firefighters of Idanha-a-Nova confirmed to JN. The boy "is undergoing a medical evaluation."

Noah was found by people and is, at the moment, being "subject to a medical evaluation", confirmed captain Jorge Massana, of the Castelo Branco GNR, stressing only that "he will be stable".

The child was found, naked, about four kilometers from the house, but it may have wandered "about ten", which is why he is now being observed.

Noah was walking on a path when he was spotted by some people. He's dehydrated and only suffered minor injuries, namely scratches on his legs, JN knows.

An operation that ends "successfully", added the captain, who did not advanced if the baby was already with the parents, who actively participated in the searches.

The child was taken to the hospital in Castelo Branco as prevention. "We can confirm that the child was admitted and is currently [22:30] under observation, so, for now, it is not possible to say anything more about his clinical condition", said Eugénia André.
(...)

[Mike88]

Bus driver of Coimbra's municipal bus company suspended after harassing a young woman:

https://twitter.com/cmjornal/status/1406622536167739399

Portugal - Driver suspended, filmed harassing a young woman on a bus in Coimbra.

A bus driver from SMTUC - Coimbra Urban Transport, was suspended preventively this Sunday after a video released on social media showed the man harassing a young woman inside the vehicle. The case may have taken place during Saturday morning.

The images published on Instagram show the driver pressing the young woman - the only passenger on the bus -, who repeatedly asks the man to stop.

While filming what happened, the young woman repeated to the man that she had to work, although he questioned several times if she had the day off. At a certain point, you can hear the driver say that "he wanted something else".

"The Municipality of Coimbra and the Board of Directors of SMTUC vehemently repudiate the behavior of the employee which was made public through a video posted on social media", can be read in the statement published on SMTUC's Facebook. "It is informed the opening of disciplinary proceedings, the immediate suspension and removal of the worker in question from the duty, in a preventive manner, was determined, and that the process was subsequently carried out under the legislation in force", it reads.

[Mike88]

Economy: Portugal's GDP per capita drops to 77% of the EU average.

https://twitter.com/TSFRadio/status/1406918841964265473

Portugal with a GDP of 77% of the EU average and consumption of 85% in purchasing power parity

According to the European statistical office, Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark are the countries with the highest levels of GDP expressed in purchasing power parity.

Portugal recorded in 2020 a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 77% of the EU average and a real individual consumption expressed in 85% of the European Union (EU) average, expressed in purchasing power parity (PPP), according to Eurostat .

According to the European Statistical Office, Luxembourg (266%), Ireland (211%) and Denmark (136%) are the countries with the highest levels of GDP expressed in PPP, and Bulgaria (55%), Greece and Croatia (64% each) the smallest.

The highest indices of real individual consumption expressed in PPP were observed in Luxembourg (131% of the EU average), followed by Germany (123%) and Denmark (121%), with Bulgaria (61%) and Croatia (67 %) and Hungary (69%) at the other end of the table.

The Eurozone registered a GDP and consumption of 105% in PPP.

Also, the number of millionaires in Portugal in 2020, reached a record high, 136,430 millionaires. People bellow the poverty line also grew in 2020, widening the gap between rich and poor.

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1407328879044345862

Portugal with more 19,430 millionaires in a year of pandemic

Even despite the pandemic, and its effects on the national economy and on household income, Portugal won millionaires over the past year. According to the most recent The Global Wealth Report, referring to 2020 — a year mostly marked by Covid-19 — Portugal has 136,430 millionaires, 19,430 more than in the 2019 report.

In fact, the number of millionaires — people with fortunes valued above one million dollars (about 840 thousand euros) — in Portugal has been rising, in the bank's accounts, since 2015, the year in which 51,000 people were counted with wealth over a million dollars. That year, there was a drop compared to 2014 (76,000), possibly due to the effects of the financial crisis. In the report released in October 2019, with data until the middle of that year, Credit Suisse identified 117 thousand millionaires in the country, a number that rose to 136,430 in 2020. The bank has only started to publish data for Portugal on the number of millionaires to from 2014.

In disaggregated terms, the Credit Suisse data show that Portugal had, in 2020, 128,772 people with a wealth valued between one million and five million dollars, 5,505 between five and ten million, 2,056 with wealth between 10 and 50 million. In the richest group, there are 72 with between 50 and 100 million and 24 between 100 and 500 million. A person has a fortune above 500 million dollars.

(...)

The data contrasts sharply with those on poverty, which has grown in Portugal in the last year. A study released this Tuesday by the Catholic University reveals that over 400,000 people have fallen below the poverty line due to the pandemic crisis, which has aggravated the gap between the rich and poor in Portugal.

[Mike88]

Azores main hospital hit by a cyberattack:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1408776933786238986

Main hospital in the Azores targeted by cyberattack

A computer attack blocked the entire system of the Divine Holy Spirit Hospital, in Ponta Delgada, Azores.

Consultations are being canceled, there are delays and cancellations of tests and the results of the Covid tests are being entered manually, by the users waiting for the result, for almost 72 hours.

The case is already in the hands of the Judiciary Police, who are trying to recover the system and investigate the origin of the attack.

The regional government has already expressed concern because of the attack:

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores was concerned, but guarantees that, so far, the cyberattack has not extended to any of the executive's health services.

Also, in the Azores, two women died after being hit by a storm that dragged their car:

https://twitter.com/SolOnline/status/1408466584553861127

Women die after car is washed away by heavy rains in São Miguel.

The heavy rains that were felt this Friday morning in the Azores caused the death of two occupants of a car, which was dragged by a torrent of water in the municipality of Povoação, in São Miguel.

The two victims disappeared this morning, whose alert was given at 11:20 am (12:20 am in Lisbon), confirmed a source of Civil Protection to Lusa news agency. The car was found near Lomba do Botón, indicated the same source.

According to a source in the family of one of the victims, the two women were in a vehicle from Santa Casa da Misericórdia, at a time when they were doing home support work for the elderly, when they were taken away by the water.

So far, "22 occurrences" have been registered throughout the island of São Miguel, since the rains that intensified early in the morning, indicated the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores (SRPCBA).
(...)

[Mike88]

Joe Berardo, businessman and banking investor, arrested for suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos, the largest public bank in Portugal:

https://twitter.com/RTPNoticias/status/1409815372610555904

Joe Berardo and a lawyer trusted by the businessman were arrested on suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos - RTP Notícias

Joe Berardo and a lawyer trusted by the businessman were arrested on suspicion of fraud to Caixa Geral de Depósitos. The operation was conducted by the Judiciary Police, through the National Unit for Combating Corruption.

The searches carried out by the Judiciary cover Lisbon, Sesimbra and Funchal.

Judge Carlos Alexandre is following the proceedings.

More info:

(...)
The mega operation took place in Lisbon, Funchal and Sesimbra. Correio da Manhã knows that Judge Carlos Alexandre is one of those involved in the operation that led to these arrests and that Armando Vara is under suspicion of offering credits.

The investigation has been ongoing since 2016 due to suspicions of the practice of harmful administration crimes, qualified fraud, tax fraud and money laundering. According to a statement sent by the PJ, the investigation identified internal procedures in processes for granting, restructuring, monitoring and recovering credit, contrary to good banking practices and which may constitute the practice of crime.

"The PJ's operation focused mainly on an economic group, which between 2006 and 2009, contracted 4 financing operations with CGD, in the amount of approximately 439 million Euros. This economic group has failed to comply with the contracts and resorted to renegotiation mechanisms and debt restructuring so as not to amortize it.", reads the statement.

Currently, this economic group has caused losses of almost one billion Euros to CGD, NB and BCP, having identified acts that could lead to criminal liability and the dissipation of assets.
(...)

[Mike88]

President of Benfica, Luís Filipe Vieira, arrested by the police due to corruption:

https://twitter.com/tvi24ultimas/status/1412782315948871680

Luís Filipe Vieira detained

Luís Filipe Vieira was arrested this Wednesday following a case that investigates suspicions of fraud, abuse of confidence and money laundering. Millionaire José António dos Santos, known as the "king of chickens" was also arrested following the same process.

The president of Benfica is at the Public Security Police (PSP) in Moscavide, and will be present to judge Carlos Alexandre this Thursday, thus spending this night in prison.

Within the scope of the same process, searches were also made to Nuno Gaioso Ribeiro, responsible for restructuring the debt of the company Publicidadelor, owned by Luís Filipe Vieira, and former vice president and administrator of the SAD of the incarnated club.

The alleged scheme would be for the benefit of both and to the detriment of Benfica: in the purchase of shares of SAD incarnate, by the club, which would give a capital gain of 11 million euros to the businessman and friend of Vieira, the largest private shareholder, with 16 .33 percent of the capital.

Last year, the deal ended up being stopped by the CMVM, upon concluding that the club's takeover bid for SAD was going to be made with funds from SAD itself, in an operation worth 32 million euros.

Before that, José António dos Santos, 79, had repurchased the debt of Imosteps, from Vieira, to Novo Banco for eight million euros, thus saving the president of Benfica from insolvency, at a time when he was re-applying to the leadership of the club and SAD - and needed, for that purpose, to have its integrity safe.

The Public Ministry believes that, on the other hand, Vieira found a way to, using his position as president of the club, get his friend to benefit from the sale of shares to Benfica itself, which had 67% of the club's SAD, wanting to reach the 95%.

The “king of chickens” would make a gain of 11 million euros, given the investment he had made, but the stock exchange regulator stopped the operation as it considered it irregular.

In question, suspicions of qualified fraud against the Bank Resolution Fund and also crimes of qualified tax fraud and money laundering.

[Mike88]

3 people injured after being run over by a car from a group of people who refused to show a Covid Digital Certificate in order to get in a bar in Reguengos de Monsaraz (Évora):

At least three people suffered minor injuries after being run over as a result of a scuffle on the terrace of a cafe on Friday night, in Reguengos de Monsaraz (Évora), said Saturday sources from the GNR and firefighters.

The source of the GNR told the Lusa news agency that one of the people involved in the contempt ran away in a car, having run over the man.

One of the wounded, 23 years old, resident in Reguengos de Monsaraz, was transported to the hospital in Évora, said a source with local firefighters.

According to the GNR, the vehicle involved in the running over, driven by a man, was later found, without a driver, and this vehicle and another one, belonging to people allegedly involved in the occurrence, were apprehended by the Guard.

There are no detainees, nor identified, following the contempt, which occurred around 22:30, according to the National Republican Guard (GNR).

The Judiciary Police were called to the scene and will investigate the case, according to the GNR.

According to a source of firefighters, during the incident, tables and chairs were broken on the café terrace, which was "practically destroyed".

A source from the Évora District Command for Relief Operations (CDOS) told Lusa that the alert for a pedestrian being run over on Rua São João de Deus, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, was given at 23:11 on Friday.

Firefighters from the Reguengos de Monsaraz corporation, in addition to the GNR, were mobilized to the site.

A video is circulating on social media that shows the scuffle.

Observador newspaper says the reason behind this incident was the refusal of a group of people of showing their Digital Certificate:

Disagreements began after the group was prevented from entering a drinking establishment for not having a Covid digital certificate. GNR was called to the scene, but did not act "given the number of people".

[Mike88]

Massive wildfire active in the Monchique mountains in the Algarve:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1416428828407345162

Fire in Monchique has forced evacuation of localities

A fire that broke out at lunchtime near Marmelete, in the municipality of Monchique, is being fought by more than 250 firefighters, 77 vehicles and nine air vehicles.

The progression of the flames has already forced the evacuation of some towns and houses, including a nursing home with 12 residents, according to SIC Notícias.

The heat, low humidity and intense wind that are felt in the place are making it difficult to fight the fire, which is progressing to the south, having already entered the municipality of Portimão.

View of the smoke clouds in a beach in Portimão city:
https://twitter.com/MeteoTrasMontPT/status/1416427516944867329

Sad scenario, the skies of Portimão, #Algarve, laden with smoke and ashes are falling from the #IRMonchique...

[Mike88]

Chaos in airports, mainly Lisbon, due to ground workers strike. Almost 300 flights have already been canceled:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1416445382712770561

274 flights canceled in the country due to Groundforce strike

The Groundforce strike caused the cancellation of 274 flights at Portuguese airports so far, of which 242 in Lisbon, according to ANA -Airports of Portugal.

According to the airport manager's latest update, nine arrivals and nine departures at Porto Airport, three arrivals and three departures at Faro Airport, two arrivals and two departures at Madeira Airport and also two arrivals and two departures at the Airport were also canceled of Porto Santo.

Today is the first day of the strike called by the Union of Airport Handling Technicians (STHA), as a protest for the "unsustainable instability, regarding the timely payment of wages and other pecuniary components" that Groundforce workers have been facing since February of 2021.

The stoppage will last for the 18th and 31st of July, the 1st and 2nd of August, which led ANA to warn of constraints at national airports, cancellations and delays on flights assisted by Groundforce, at the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro , Funchal and Porto Santo.

In addition to this strike, since July 15th, Groundforce workers are also carrying out an overtime strike, which lasts until midnight on October 31st, 2021.

Groundforce is 50.1% owned by Pasogal and 49.9% by the TAP group, which, in 2020, became 72.5% owned by the Portuguese State.

[Mike88]

Census 2021: First data to be released next week, 28 July.

https://twitter.com/ECO_PT/status/1418173574456778763

INE reveals preliminary Census data on Wednesday. 99% of citizens responded via digital

INE will release the first results of the 2021 Census on July 28, the national statistics agency announced. The overwhelming majority of families responded to the general census through digital means, especially the internet portal.

“On July 28th, INE will release the first results of the XVI General Population Census and VI General Housing Census – 2021 Census, an operation that had 99.3% of the population's responses through digital channels” , announced the INE in a statement.

The institute highlights that, among the total of 99.3% of digital responses, “the most used means was the direct access of families to the website (87.5%), followed by responses using the enumerator's mobile application (7.7%), and, finally, filling out the questionnaires at the 'ebalcões' located at the Parish Councils (4.1%)”.

This massive adhesion to the internet “contributed decisively” to the “quality” of the operation, advances INE, including to the “required tranquility and security” in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The response collection phase took place between April 5th and May 31st and “had the committed participation of the population”.

Thanks to digital channels, it was possible to complete “most of the work just six weeks after the date of the census moment”, on April 19th. The 2021 Census operation involved around 15 thousand people.

According to INE, the results that will be presented next Wednesday, July 28, “are still preliminary, as they are based on counts resulting from the collection process and released before the end of the entire treatment process. and validation of the information collected”. A second release of provisional data is also planned, in February 2022, but the final data will only arrive in the fourth quarter of that year. “We counted everyone. We count on everyone”, concludes the institute.
(...)

[Mike88]

Young people on holiday vandalize streets, cars and beaches in the small tourist village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, Beja district:

https://twitter.com/tvi24pt/status/1418541621545685001

Young people vandalize the streets and beaches of Vila Nova de Milfontes

In Vila Nova de Milfontes, in the municipality of Odemira, hundreds of young people organize beach parties that last into the night and, at the end, roam the streets of the village to vandalize doors, cars, windows and paint graffiti on the facades of houses and walkways.

Malhão beach has been the garbage can for the many bottles of alcohol that these young people, underage, consume.

The local GNR explains that the young people are between 12 and 16 years old and are almost all from the Cascais, Oeiras and Lisbon.

For residents, this is a worrying situation that repeats itself every year.

"They don't know how to behave, they don't respect people and they don't even respect the authorities", complains a resident of Vila Nova de Milfontes, who says that many cars are seriously damaged and there is no one who can be held responsible.

Another Milfontes resident refers to "beaches completely full of rubbish, destroyed urban furniture, including attacks on residents".

"This is recurrent, it happens every year at this time and on New Year's Eve", he says, therefore, "it has to be foreseen that at this time the guards we have don't arrive."

"This has been happening for several years, but this year it crossed all limits", complains another resident, regretting that this year, as there was in other years, there was no reinforcement of the security forces.

The GNR has already guaranteed that on the night of Thursday to Friday there was already a reinforcement of policing.

[Mike88]

First results of the 2021 Census:

Total Population: 10,347,892 (-214,286 compared with 2011)

By region:

North: 3,588,701 (-100,981)
Center: 2,227,912 (-99,843)
Lisbon: 2,871,133 (+49,257)
Alentejo: 704,934 (-52,368)
Algarve: 467,495 (+16,489)
Azores: 236,657 (-10,115)
Madeira, 251,060 (-16,725)

By gender:

Female: 5,430,098 (52.48%)
Male: 4,917,794 (47.52%)

Number of families: 4,156,017 (+107,458)

Number of buildings: 3,587,669 (+43,280)

[Mike88]

10 most populated municipalities: (compared with 2011)

Lisbon: 544,851 (-7,849)
Sintra: 385,954 (+8,119)
Vila Nova de Gaia: 304,149 (+1,851)
Porto: 231,962 (-5,629)
Cascais: 214,134 (+7,655)
Loures: 201,646 (+2,152)
Braga: 193,333 (+11,839)
Almada: 177,400 (+3,370)
Matosinhos: 172,669 (-2,870)
Oeiras: 171,802 (-318)

[Mike88]

My hometown, Póvoa de Varzim, was one of the few municipalities, just 51 out of 308, that grew in population compared with 2011: 64,320 in 2021 vs 63,408 in 2011.

In the urban parish, the population grew by more than 3%: 35,476 in 2021 vs 34,266 in 2011.

Interactive site with the full results for the 308 municipalities and 3,092 parishes: https://www.ine.pt/scripts/db_censos_2021.html