The PSD-CDS led government is used to receiving requests, but they usually centre on the dire need for funding from almost all corners of the country. Last week however, one came that broke the mould. The Reälian movement sent architectural drawings with its request for permission to build an extra-terrestrial embassy on national territory.
Promising the embassy would bring “tens of millions of billions of dollars” to its host country, the plans were sent to both the ministry for foreign affairs under Rui Machete, and the environment ministry under Jorge Moreira da Silva – currently one of the fiercest apologists for the demolition of hundreds of islanders’ homes in the Algarve beauty spot of Ria Formosa.
Could the Reälian movement have its eye on this potential chunk of prime real estate?
According to Observador website, the amount of land needed is in fact very little: just four square kilometres.
Along with that, residents and visitors “will require diplomatic neutrality” while air space over the embassy will need to be restricted.
Portugal is said to be “one of four countries that have been chosen” for the embassy which the Raelian movement hopes to build within the next 10-15 years, writes Observador.
Plans too have been sent to the United States, France and Peru.
Curiously, the Reälian movement is said to have 80,000 members spread over 70 countries but only 15 “active members” in Portugal.
These were all understood to have attended a presentation of the embassy plans at Lisbon’s Tivoli Hotel last Saturday.
Founded by former French racing driver Claude Vorilhon, the Reälian movement centres on the belief that life on earth was created by extra-terrestrials whose descendants for reasons unexplained may be keen to revisit the planet.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
