WEDNESDAY BRIEFINGS

Behind this week's headlines

Courts strike illegally?

The Portuguese Union of Judicial Officers yesterday pledged to press ahead with a one-month strike starting today by court officials. The Luca new agency reports that the union has rejected allegations of illegality made by the Directorate-General of the Administration of Justice and accusing it of intimidation.

Catholic child abuse

At least 4,815 boys and girls were sexually abused by members of the Portuguese Catholic Church over the past 70 years, an independent investigation has concluded. The investigators’ report, published on Monday, noted that this number was just “the tip of the iceberg.” Most of the culprits were priests, some of them Jesuits. There have been apologies, but the report still awaits a proper response from the Catholic Church, both in Portugal and the Vatican.

Teachers strike

Teachers and school workers are likely to continue taking to the streets of Lisbon and elsewhere in mass demonstrations unless the government can soon reach an agreement with the unions about wages and terms of service. Tens of thousands took part in last weekend’s demonstration, the third in less than a month. Meanwhile, the strikes are troubling for pupils and working parents.

Novo Banco back

The Portuguese Finance Ministry announced on Monday that the European Commission has said it will consider the reconstructing process of Novo Banco, a process that began in 2017 and was completed at the end of last year.

Far fewer pupils

The number of pupils attending Portuguese schools dropped by more than 20% in the decade to 2019, according to figures released this week by the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics. It’s another indication of the growing percentage of the population aged 65 and over, which now stands at about one quarter.

Major sports event

Some of the biggest names in world bicycle racing will be taking part in the 49^th Volte ao Algarve race that started in rain-soaked Portimão today (Feb.15^th) and finishes in Lagoa on Sunday. The race covers more than 700 kilometres in five stages all around the region’s roadways. Apart from being an important sporting event, it showcases the Algarve as a tourist destination – although this week’s weather might not help. 

 

Top security meeting

Portugal will be represented at the 59^th Munich Security Conference to be held this coming weekend. Those attending will include the secretary-general of NATO, the president of the European Union, and leading politicians from  the United States and China. Russia’s war in Ukraine – not strange balloons - will be the most pressing subjects up for discussion.

 

Saint Valentine

Did you happen to wonder on Tuesday who Saint Valentine actually was? No one knows for sure, but there are lots of theories. The News York Times has suggested Valentine’s Day in celebration of two saints who were made into a composite character. One, according to popular legend, was a religious zealot arrested after he defied an order by the pagan Emperor Claudius that forbade Roman soldiers from getting married. He was later beheaded.