November 25
The decision to commemorate November 25 as another important date in Portugal’s road to democracy “reopened historic political fractures” seeing various parties of the left boycott the planned military parade, and PCP communists refuse to take part in the parliamentary session. November 25 was the date in 1975 when extreme left wing members of the military mounted a failed coup d’etat, foiled by moderates led by Lt Col Ramalho Eanes – the man who later went on to become President of the Republic.
Everyone acquitted
All 13 defendants connected to the Order of Nurses – and charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of claiming ‘fictitious travel expenses’ of over €63,000 – have been acquitted following a ruling by judges at Lisbon’s Central Criminal Court that the case had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. One of the judges’ reasons for erring on the side of caution was “the climate of great animosity” overshadowing the case.
Portuguese dentist
A female Portuguese dentist has been condemned to over two years jail in Ireland for stalking a former (policewoman) girlfriend who had to ‘flee to Australia to escape the ‘terror’ and the ‘dozens of men who started knocking at her door hoping for free sex’. As the court heard, Andreia Funico created false profiles to attract men to the home of her ex-girlfriend, among many other forms of intimidatory behaviour.
Night train
Parliament has approved a proposal by LIVRE for the government to resume negotiations with Spain to reactivate international night trains between Portugal and Spain. The idea is for the Lusitânia and Sud-Expresso night service to resume during the first half of 2026. LIVRE cited climate goals and international commitments, saying “night trains are once again emerging as an alternative for long journeys” that would imply the consumption of fuel/ energy.
Landslide deaths
A mother who still has no answers over the deaths in a landslide of her pregnant daughter and son-in-law in Esposende three years ago has taken out two legal actions, one of them targeting the mayor of the time. Ana Bajão tells reporters she and other homeowners in Palmeira de Faro prohibited since the tragedy from living in their homes deserve to get their lives back, and see culpability established.
Adult vaccination
Portuguese and international experts are meeting in Lisbon this week to discuss vaccination policies and strategies aimed at healthcare professionals, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised.Organised in collaboration with representatives of Portuguese public health, the Adult Immunisation Board (AIB) event aims to promote the exchange of good practices to strengthen adult vaccination in Portugal and Europe. Pulmonologist Filipe Froes suggested that Portugal has “a poor appreciation of lifelong immunisation”.
Medical uproar
Three medical societies are filing a complaint against Dr. Manuel Pinto Coelho, who considers cholesterol an “ally” and denies the effectiveness of statins. In a joint statement concerning the report broadcast by TVI last weekend, the societies of Cardiology, Atherosclerosis and Hypertension warn that presenting these opinions as a “legitimate alternative” to medicine constitutes “a public health risk”, and could spark “an immediate increase in heart attacks and strokes”.
Venezuelan positives
In spite of the current tension between the United States and Venezuela, information regarding the 400,000-strong Portuguese community in Venezuela is “perfectly reassuring”, claims minister for foreign affairs, Paulo Rangel. “There are no requests to return to Portugal” or any news that “could in any way be disturbing (…) the situation is perfectly calm and normalised”, he told reporters at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit taking place in Angola.
