🇵🇹 Portugal's politics and elections 3.0

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

- Miguel Albuquerque, Madeira's President, is due to give a live statement during the afternoon, while many political parties, left to right, are now asking for his resignation.

Albuquerque said he will not resign, saying he's not corrupt and that many info that is being reported isn't true, regarding the acusations towards him.

Many pundits are also "trashing" the leaking of info of the raids to several media outlets during yesterday. No one knows who leaked it.

Albuquerque is now officially a formal suspect (arguido in Portuguese), which makes his political situation even more complicated. PSD leader Luís Montenegro said that "no one is above the law", but added that for the moment, Albuquerque's should remain in office. However, these remarks were made prior to the news that he had been named as a formal suspect. We'll see if he isn't "forced" to resign. The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, will be flown to Lisbon tomorrow and presented to a judge next Friday, alongside with the remaining two arrested businessmen.

The cases under investigation surround a series of construction projects in which Albuquerque, Calado and several businessemen, which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo, are suspect of creating a network of payments, bribes and/or schemes to speed up construction and avoid bureaucracy.

With so many judicial cases surrounding national and local political officials, it was also news today IKEA's publicity campaign that uses the ongoing corruption case against Costa, in order to sell forniture:

https://twitter.com/manjos/status/1750083728305471534

Good for storing books. Or 75,800 euros.

The company reacted by saying that their goal is to not be political, but that of "reflecting real life" and of giving a touch of humour in a world "increasingly on its nerves".

if this drags out enough, and assuming PSD/ AD slumps from it, who benefits the most?

[Mike88]

if this drags out enough, and assuming PSD/ AD slumps from it, who benefits the most?

We'll have to wait and see how this pans out. After the case surrounding Costa's inner circle last November, everyone is a bit "scalded" about the Prosecutor's accusations, so let's see what the Judge rules in the next few days. We will also have a decision regarding the Sócrates case appeal during today, which will also have an impact.

On paper, all of this mood benefits CHEGA, with their whole "everyone is corrupt" and "Portugal needs a clean up" and so on. But, to be honest, not sure if, in the end, this will translate actually in votes for them. Maybe it's just me, but I sense that people have just switch off this election and turnout could be quite low. In that scenario, PS and AD, the latter at a lesser extent, could benefit from a lower turnout, while CHEGA, IL or BE would take a hit. This is just a guess, we'll see.

[Mike88]

At the same time the police raids in Madeira were making headlines, a massive police protest against the government was also on the headlines:

The protest started a few weeks ago, after the government's decision to give Judiciary Police officers a mission support of around 700 euros, but the same would not be given to GNR and PSP officers which, alongside with bad working conditions and crumbling police infrastructures, created outrage in the security forces. And, last wednesday, around 15,000 police officers marched in Lisbon city against the government, one of the biggest police protest in Portugal.

As the current government is a caretaker one, they cannot do anything right now to solve the situation. The government says they have a study, to be given to the next government, in which police officers could be given more money, around 1,000 euros per officer, however, police unions are very skeptical about this proposal.

[Mike88]

- Miguel Albuquerque, Madeira's President, is due to give a live statement during the afternoon, while many political parties, left to right, are now asking for his resignation.

Albuquerque said he will not resign, saying he's not corrupt and that many info that is being reported isn't true, regarding the acusations towards him.

Many pundits are also "trashing" the leaking of info of the raids to several media outlets during yesterday. No one knows who leaked it.

Albuquerque is now officially a formal suspect (arguido in Portuguese), which makes his political situation even more complicated. PSD leader Luís Montenegro said that "no one is above the law", but added that for the moment, Albuquerque's should remain in office. However, these remarks were made prior to the news that he had been named as a formal suspect. We'll see if he isn't "forced" to resign. The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, will be flown to Lisbon tomorrow and presented to a judge next Friday, alongside with the remaining two arrested businessmen.

The cases under investigation surround a series of construction projects in which Albuquerque, Calado and several businessemen, which also includes Cristiano Ronaldo, are suspect of creating a network of payments, bribes and/or schemes to speed up construction and avoid bureaucracy.

More updates in the Madeira case:

- The mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, and one of the businessmen arrested by the police boarded an Air Force plane, early this afternoon, to take them to Lisbon. They will be presented to the same judge that ruled on the suspects in the investigation that brought down Costa's government 3 months ago;

- Albuquerque continues to say he will not resign but that he will ask for his immunity, as member of the Council of State, to be removed, adding that he's "calm" and does not "accept being lynched in public square and on social media";

- The Opposition in Madeira is quite divided regarding yesterday's events: BE and JPP want a motion of no confidence, but the PS rejects, at the same time presses for Albuquerque's resignation. However, the PS opposition in Funchal city, led by Miguel Gouveia (PS), doesn't want to make "rapid judgements" and wants to await more results from the investigation;

[Mike88]

We will also have a decision regarding the Sócrates case appeal during today, which will also have an impact.

Court of Appeals accepts the Prosecutor's appeal and former PM José Sócrates will go on trial for corruption. Sócrates vows to appeal to higher Courts:

https://twitter.com/observadorpt/status/1750576139792179544

José Sócrates will be tried for three corruption crimes and 19 other crimes.

Former Prime Minister José Sócrates lost the battle in the Court of Appeals (Tribunal da Relação) as the Court's Judges sided with the Prosecutor and overruled the previous ruling on Sócrates case made almost 3 years ago. Sócrates wil have to face trial on 22 crimes, 3 of them of corruption. Other high profile suspects, like disgraced banker Ricardo Salgado, will also face trial. Sócrates reacted to the ruling saying that he "doesn't conform" with the ruling and that he's disappointed in the Justice system, adding that this is a "defeat for justice". He criticized the judges who made the ruling and said he will appeal to higher courts.

[Mike88]

The net is closing in on Miguel Albuquerque:

- PAN has now removed their support from Albuquerque and wants the PSD to nominate a new President. The party says that Albuquerque has no conditions to remain in office and says that his "lack of flexibility" is only making things worse. The party doesn't want new elections and challenges the PSD to nominate a new candidate for the Presidency of the Regional Government;

- At the same time, CHEGA is going to announce, in the next few days, a motion of no confidence against Albuquerque, which could create a problem for the leftwing Opposition: Vote in favour or abstain, that's the question;

[Mike88]

The net is closing in on Miguel Albuquerque:

Albuquerque is out:

Miguel Albuquerque is going to resign as President of Madeira. His decision is going to be communicated in a PSD-Madeira party meeting during the afternoon. The party will then choose a successor that will become the new President of Madeira.

The media is also reporting that, despite Montenegro's public stance of "support" to Albuquerque, Montenegro spent the last 48 hours pressuring, in private, Albuquerque to resign at once. Sources from the PSD say that Albuquerque had no other option and that this decision is "already late".

[Battista Minola 1616]

Resigning over a small scandal? Ha, Albuquerque's predecessor (38 year of uninterrupted rule) would never.

On a different note, the Portuguese tradition of every party debating every other party is fun but it's clearly getting out of hand. Who even watches some of them?

[Mike88]

Resigning over a small scandal? Ha, Albuquerque's predecessor (38 year of uninterrupted rule) would never.

The funny thing is that he resigned without saying he was resigning, which is already something.

https://twitter.com/cnnportugal/status/1750945499765469494

Miguel Albuquerque announced this Friday his resignation as President of the Regional Government of Madeira. After a meeting with the PSD National Commission, the president of the regional executive confirmed the expected departure.

In his speech after a PSD meeting, Albuquerque listed the many things he did, and is still doing, as President of Madeira for the last 9 years, but said that the political and social stability of Madeira cannot be harmed, so he called a PSD Regional Council meeting for next Monday to name his sucessor.

In reaction, PAN-Madeira, which were the ones that effectively "fired" Albuquerque, said that they are now waiting for the name of the new leader, they hope it's a woman, and that they are willing to continue the agreement with PSD, warning that new elections right now are "dangerous".

Pundits are now just "fighting with each other" because President Marcelo isn't reacting and announcing he would dissolve the regional parliament, and that he has double standards, one for Costa and a different one for the PSD.

On a different note, the Portuguese tradition of every party debating every other party is fun but it's clearly getting out of hand. Who even watches some of them?

Of course some debates are useless, PAN vs Livre, Livre vs CDU or BE vs CDU, and many have low rating because they are broadcast by the news channels and not by the 3 main ones. They only then appear in online news and in the lunch and evening news the following day. It's a weird thing, it would be much more efficient to have like 3 left parties vs 3 right parties debates, rather than this format which in some cases the debates only last 30 minutes. The media doesn't want to be accused of "neglecting" party leaders, so the solution was this. It is what it is.

[Mike88]

- Remember the PSD MP, Maló de Abreu, who left the party last week and "denied, denied, denied" that he was going to CHEGA? Well, he IS going to CHEGA and will be a candidate for the overseas constituency of Outside Europe. Talk about credibility ;

And there's new developments in this story: CHEGA removes Maló de Abreu from the lists after it was discovered he allegedly gave a fake address in order to receive more Parliamentary funds.

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1750925547259994155

Maló de Abreu gives up being a candidate for Chega

Former PSD MP, now Independent, Maló de Abreu will not be a MP in the next Parliament after he was removed from CHEGA's lists following revelations that he allegedly forged his address in order to receive more money from Parliament. He gave his address in Luanda, Angola, but gave to his own party a different one and seems to have continued to live in Coimbra city. In total, he received 75,000 euros. Maló de Abreu says that the story is false but said it was himself that decided to leave CHEGA's lists, while Ventura says it was him that removed Maló.

[Mike88]

Some more updates:

- Regarding the Madeira raids, the police found a total of 30,000 euros in cash in the houses of Funchal mayor, Pedro Calado, and of his mother, plus the police is still searching for 70,000 euros paid to Calado that seem to be missing. Of course, there is already jokes about this discovery: "Was the money also hidden in bookshelves and wine boxes?";

- Lisbon City Hall has forbidden a neo-nazi rally in Lisbon city that was expected to be held next 3 February. Mayor Carlos Moedas (PSD) confirmed this on Twitter saying that security and disturbance of order risks are very serious. The march/rally called "Against the Islamization of Europe" was expected to happen next Saturday and be held in the area of Mouraria, where a lot of Muslim and Asian immigrants live;

[Mike88]

- Regarding the Madeira raids, the police found a total of 30,000 euros in cash in the houses of Funchal mayor, Pedro Calado, and of his mother, plus the police is still searching for 70,000 euros paid to Calado that seem to be missing. Of course, there is already jokes about this discovery: "Was the money also hidden in bookshelves and wine boxes?";

Pedro Calado has resigned as mayor of Funchal. The new mayor is Cristina Pedra.

https://twitter.com/JornalNoticias/status/1751230232919740587

Mayor of Funchal resigns from his post

After Albuquerque's resignation yesterday, today was Pedro Calado, mayor of Funchal city, turn to resign from office. He's currently arrested by the police and is being questioned by a judge in Lisbon, which will then rule on his coercive measures. The new mayor is Cristina Pedra, the first woman to hold the office of mayor of Funchal.

[Mike88]

Aximage poll for JN/DN newspapers and TSF radio:

Vote share %:

32.7% PS (-1.4)
27.4% PSD/CDS/PPM (+1.4)
16.2% CHEGA (-0.1)
  8.0% BE (+1.7)
  4.2% IL (+0.1)
  2.9% PAN (-0.8 )
  2.6% CDU (-0.1)
  1.9% Livre (+0.1)
  4.1% Others/Invalid (-0.9)

Poll conducted between 16 and 20 January 2024. Polled 801 voters. MoE of 3.50%.

And, first poll for the Azores election, to be held next Sunday.

Aximage poll for Açoriano Oriental newspaper on the Azores election:

Vote share %:

36.6% PSD/CDS/PPM
33.5% PS
  6.3% CHEGA
  1.9% BE
  1.9% PAN
  1.4% IL
  1.3% CDU
  3.8% Others/Invalid
13.3% Undecided

Poll conducted between 18 and 24 January 2024. Polled 411 voters.

Warning: These polls were conducted prior to the Madeira police raids. No one knows how much of an impact it will have in the polls, and even in the Azorean election.

[Mike88]

Azores election update:

The Azores election is next Sunday and parties have been on the road campaigning, sort of. This because the election campaign has been marked by awful weather, strong winds and rain, flash floods, which is forcing parties to cancel event after event. The PSD coalition even suspended their campaign for today after a supporter died of a heart attack during one of their events.

Also, today is early voting day. 3,528 voters, out of almost 230,000, asked to cast an early ballot, a very slight drop from the 3,541 in 2020.

And finally, election broadcasts of the main parties:

PSD/CDS/PPM coalition:

PS - Socialist Party:

CHEGA:

BE - Left Bloc:

IL - Liberal Initiative:

PAN - People-Animals-Nature:

[Mike88]

Update on the Madeira crisis:

- Miguel Albuquerque has tendered his resignation to the Representative of the Republic in Madeira, Ireneu Barreto, and also announced that he will be leaving the PSD-Madeira leadership, with a leadership contest yet to be scheduled. Barreto accepted Albuquerque's resignation but will not signed yet;

- The PSD-Madeira regional council meeting was canceled and postponed because the name proposed by Albuquerque created divisions within the party;

- The Opposition in Madeira continues to demand snap elections but divisions within parties are also evident. JPP, the main rival of the PS against the PSD, has rejected a meeting with the PS, accusing the Socialists of being "hungry for power", saying that they spent "years fighting alone" pressing for transparency in Madeira and that they will not follow the PS' "opportunism";

- Rumours and more rumours of President Marcelo inclination to call snap elections in Madeira continue to grow, even though that can only happen after March/April;

[Mike88]

CHEGA campaign billboard set on fire by anti-fascists activists:

https://twitter.com/rjeribeiro/status/1751968382457397332

An anti-fascist and anti-racist organization set fire, last night, to a big CHEGA campaign billboard in a main Lisbon avenue. The organization says that in the 50-year aniversary of the 1974 revolution, "fascism is still alive". They also blame other parties, left to right, of being accomplices of the rise of the far-right and that no solutions will come from them. CHEGA has already reacted, condemning the action and asking for donations to replace the billboard.

[Mike88]

President Marcelo vetoes neutral names and self-identification gender legislation:

https://twitter.com/SICNoticias/status/1752017531370623020

Marcelo does not sign the diploma that would allow the right to choose a neutral name

President Marcelo has vetoed the controversial neutral name and self-identification gender bills, approved by Parliament on 5 January. The President says the neutral name bill doesn't "guarantee a balance that respects the essential principle of personal freedoms", while in the self-identification bill, Marcelo says that the legislation doesn't respect the role of parents, teachers and/or legal representatives, nor does it clarify issues relating to the person's age. The President writes that he, therefore, returns the bills to Parliament in order to give them more "realism" in a cause that creates clashes with families and schools. The bills will only return to Parliament after the new Parliament, to be elected on 10 March, is sworn in.

[Mike88]

UCP–CESOP poll for RTP and Público newspaper on the Azores election:

Vote share %:

39% PS, 23/27 seats
36% PSD/CDS/PPM, 22/26
  9% CHEGA, 3/5
  3% BE, 0/2
  2% IL, 0/1
  2% CDU, 0/1
  2% PAN, 0/1
  1% Livre, 0
  1% JPP, 0
  5% Others/Invalid

Poll conducted between 27 and 28 January 2024. Polled 2,297 voters. MoE of 2.00%.

[Mike88]

Update on the Madeira crisis:

- Miguel Albuquerque has basically lost control of who will succeed him. The local party is now deeply divided on what to do: Go to snap elections or propose a new government. Figures like Alberto João Jardim, and those close to him, want fresh elections, while those close to Albuquerque reject the idea, showing that the 2012 divisions within the PSD-Madeira are resurfacing again. The party will convene Thursday to approve, we'll shall see, a new candidate;

- Also, the 3 arrested during the raids, former Funchal mayor Pedro Calado and two businessmen, are are currently in the middle of a legal limbo, because they still haven't been inquired by a judge, for a week now, when the law says 48 hours after the arrest. Errors in the investigation, delays in receiving documentation and the ongoing strike of Court staff, is stalling the judicial process. The lawyers of the accused say that basic rights are being violated;

- The media is revealing more details from the Police and Prosecutor's investigation. Besides the money found in Pedro Calado's house, the police found what they believe is a diamond in his office, several luxurious watches, plus money and more money in envelopes that were allegedly transported by Calado's mother, daughter and chauffeur. There is a Portuguese word for this: Parolice;

[Mike88]

Parties/coalitions running in the 10 March 2024 general elections:

Districts running; Abbreviation; Name; Ideology

  1 A - Alliance, center-right (only in Setúbal)
22 ADN - National Democratic Alternative, rightwing
22 BE - Left Bloc, leftwing
22 CH - CHEGA, far-right
22 E - Rise Up, far-right
22 IL - Liberal Initiative, center-right
10 JPP - Together for the People, center
22 L - Livre, center-left
  1 MAS - Socialist Alternative Movement, far-left (only in Lisbon)
17 MPT.A - Earth Party/Alliance "Alternative 21" (A21) coalition, center-right
  5 NC - We, the Citizens, center-right
20 ND - New Right, rightwing
22 PAN - People-Animals-Nature, center-left
22 PCP-PEV - Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), leftwing
  9 PCTP/MRPP - Portuguese Workers' Communist Party, far-left/maoism
21 PPD/PSD.CDS-PP.PPM - Coalition "Democratic Alliance" (AD), center-right
  1 PPD/PSD.CDS-PP - Coalition "Madeira First", center-right (only in Madeira)
  1 PPM - People's Monarchist Party, right-wing (only in Madeira)
22 PS - Socialist Party, center-left
  3 PTP - Portuguese Labour Party, center-left
22 RIR - React, Include, Recycle, syncretic
21 VP - Volt Portugal, center-left

Party budgets for the election campaign*:

2,560,000€ AD (includes coalition in Madeira)
2,550,000€ PS
   785,000€ CDU
   700,000€ CHEGA
   645,000€ IL
   508,625€ BE
   208,947€ PAN
   134,000€ ND
     95,500€ Livre
     54,300€ Volt Portugal
     45,000€ JPP
     40,000€ A21
       2,000€ RIR
       1,700€ E

8,330,072€ Total

*Some parties have yet to publish their campaign budgets.

[Mike88]

Final head candidates lists, by district, of CHEGA, BE and Livre:

CHEGA:

Azores: Miguel Arruda
Aveiro: Jorge Galveias, incumbent MP;
Beja: Diva Ribeiro
Braga: Filipe Melo, incumbent MP;
Bragança: José Pires
Castelo Branco: João Ribeiro
Coimbra: António Pinto Pereira, former PSD member;
Évora: Rui Cristina, former PSD MP from Faro;
Faro: Pedro Pinto, incumbent MP;
Guarda: Nuno Simões de Melo, former IL member;
Leiria: Gabriel Mithá, incumbent MP;
Lisbon: André Ventura, CHEGA leader and incumbent MP;
Madeira: Francisco Gomes
Portalegre: Henrique Freitas, former PSD/CDS government member (2004-05);
Porto: Rui Afonso, incumbent MP;
Santarém: Pedro Frazão, incumbent MP;
Setúbal: Rita Matias, former Culture minister (2015);
Viana do Castelo: Eduardo Teixeira, former PSD member and councillor;
Vila Real: Manuela Tender, former PSD MP;
Viseu: João Tilly
Europe: José Dias Fernandes
Outside Europe: Manuel Magno

3 female list heads (14%) vs 19 male list heads (86%)

BE - Left Bloc:

Azores: Joana Bettencourt
Aveiro: Moisés Ferreira, former MP;
Beja: José Esteves
Braga: Bruno Maia
Bragança: Vítor Pimenta
Castelo Branco: Inês Antunes
Coimbra: Miguel Cardina
Évora: Manuel Canudo
Faro: José Gusmão, incumbent MEP and former MP;
Guarda: Beatriz Realinho
Leiria: Rafael Henriques
Lisbon: Mariana Mortágua, BE leader and incumbent MP;
Madeira: Dina Letra
Portalegre: Rui de Sousa
Porto: Marisa Matias, incumbent MEP;
Santarém: Bruno Góis
Setúbal: Joana Mortágua, incumbent MP and Almada city councillor;
Viana do Castelo: Adriana Temporão
Vila Real: Vasco Valente Lopes, former PSD MP;
Viseu: José Miguel Lopes
Europe: Rita Nóbrega
Outside Europe: Miguel Heleno

9 female list heads (41%) vs 13 male list heads (59%)

L - Livre:

Azores: José Manuel Azevedo
Aveiro: Joana Filipe
Beja: Fausto Camacho Fialho
Braga: Teresa Mota, co-leader of Livre;
Bragança: Anabela Luciano Correia
Castelo Branco: João Barata Rodrigues
Coimbra: Clara Cruz Santos
Évora: Glória Franco
Faro: Rodrigo Teixeira
Guarda: Margarida Bordalo
Leiria: Inês Pires
Lisbon: Rui Tavares, Livre's co-leader and incumbent MP;
Madeira: Carlos Andrade
Portalegre: João Ramos
Porto: Jorge Pinto
Santarém: Pedro Mendonça
Setúbal: Paulo Muacho
Viana do Castelo: Gonçalo Caseiro Pereira
Vila Real: Mila Simões de Abreu
Viseu: Luís Marques
Europe: Tiago Correia
Outside Europe: Nurin Mirzan

10 female list heads (45%) vs 12 male list heads (55%)

[Mike88]

At the same time the police raids in Madeira were making headlines, a massive police protest against the government was also on the headlines:

Second police protest, this time in Porto city gathering 20,000 police officers:

Police unions say that this was the biggest protest ever of police officers against a government. Around 20,000 police officers marched in Porto city demanding a solution from the current government, currently caretaker, regarding the different supports between police forces. The government has said they are currently powerless to do anything, but will give a plan to the next government. Police unions reject this explanation and say that the current government can resolve the situation. New PS leader Pedro Nuno Santos, met with unions, a few days ago, and was open to a solution, while PSD leader Luís Montenegro doesn't compromise with a solution to police officers.

[Mike88]

Farmers join the European protests and block the border roads between Portugal and Spain:

https://twitter.com/expresso/status/1753046155880288466

Farmers concentrated near the Caia border, in Elvas, Portalegre district, threatened to take the protests to Lisbon if the Government does not contact them about the sector's demands.

Farmers across the country have joined the European protests and have blocked several border roads across the country. The protests were announced a few days ago, and yesterday the government announced a package of 500 million euros in supports to farmers and agriculture businesses and the minister for agriculture also apologized for an earlier communication that some farming supports would be cut. However, farmers criticize the package, saying it's just "intentions" and do not believe in the government. Some farmers even threaten to protest in Lisbon and blockade the capital.

[Mike88]

GfK/Metris/ICS/ISCTE poll for Expresso newspaper/SIC TV:

Vote share %:

29% PS (nc)
27% PSD/CDS/PPM (nc)
21% CHEGA (+6)
  5% IL (-1)
  5% BE (-1)
  3% CDU (-1)
  1% PAN (-2)
  1% Livre (nc)
  2% Others (-1)
  5% Blank/Invalid (-1)

Popularity ratings: (between 0 and 10)

5.9 Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (-0.7)
4.3 Pedro Nuno Santos (new)
4.0 Luís Montenegro (+0.4)
3.8 Mariana Mortágua (nc)
3.4 André Ventura (+0.5)
3.0 Nuno Melo (+0.3)
3.0 Inês Sousa Real (+0.3)
2.9 Rui Tavares (-0.2)
2.9 Rui Rocha (+0.1)
2.7 Paulo Raimundo (-0.2)

Government's approval:

69% Bad/Very bad (nc)
26% Good/Very good (-1)
  5% Undecided (+1)

Poll conducted between 16 and 25 January 2024. Polled 804 voters. MoE of 3.50%.

[Mike88]

Updates:

Farmers join the European protests and block the border roads between Portugal and Spain:

- During yesterday night, the Government caved in and accepted farmers demands, with strong guarantees from the government that financial support will be given to farmers and that budget cuts will be reversed. Because of this, some protests were lifted, but other continue. This morning, tractors blocked the Vasco da Gama bridge, the longest bridge in the EU, and the agriculture minister is to met with farmer's representatives this afternoon;

- In Madeira, the political crisis continues. Yesterday, the PSD-Madeira was to name the person who will succeed Miguel Albuquerque but, alas. The party's regional council meeting had strong turnout, around 600 participants, and was decided that the party should pick a name to become President of the Regional Government and avoid snap elections. When that name will be revealed is still unknown;

With so many judicial cases surrounding national and local political officials, it was also news today IKEA's publicity campaign that uses the ongoing corruption case against Costa, in order to sell forniture:

The company reacted by saying that their goal is to not be political, but that of "reflecting real life" and of giving a touch of humour in a world "increasingly on its nerves".

- The IKEA publicity campaign is also on the news today as it's being reported that the Government and the PS allegedly tried to block the campaign at all costs. Sol newspaper says that no one is assuming this publicly, but that behind the scenes there were talks between Portuguese and Swedish diplomats;