1. Only Half of Foreigners Living in Portugal Are Registered at Health Centers
According to an article published by the newspaper Publico, there are about 882,000 foreigners living in Portugal who are registered with health centers. As, in total, the country has 1.6 million foreign residents, this means that only half are enrolled in primary healthcare services.
According to the newspaper, citing data from the Central Administration of the Health System, among the approximately 882,000 foreigners registered in primary healthcare, 52,886 have not completed all the mandatory information fields. As Público notes, financial responsibility is only assumed by the state when there is an updated registration in the National Health Service (SNS).
Note that this mandatory update is causing concern for the collective Humans Before Borders, which has already called on the Government to ensure that no administrative decision results in discrimination or unjustified restriction of the right to health.
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2. Portuguese Companies Are Testing Solutions to Give Products a Digital Passport
Portuguese companies are facing growing pressure as the European Union’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) becomes mandatory starting next year. From footwear to cutlery, businesses across Portugal are now being challenged to collect and organize data that, until now, wasn’t mandatory. While the regulation aims to boost transparency and traceability in European industry, many in Portugal consider it a technical and difficult-to-read regulation, with rules that are still being finalized. The Portuguese Business Association (AEP) and industry leaders warn that companies are not prepared, particularly SMEs that lack the resources for the required digital transformation.
According to several stakeholders, most companies are not yet ready, with many still unaware of the impact the DPP will have. While sectors like electronics and fashion have begun adapting, the textile and apparel industries, which are key to Portugal’s economy, argue that they can’t say they’re ready if they don’t even know the rules of the game. Tools like the GreenTech Lab are offering a path forward by allowing Portuguese firms to test solutions and begin mapping what they have, what’s missing, and how to adapt. However, concerns persist about unfair competition from third-country producers who are not required to comply and can “offer cheaper products.
Despite the regulatory uncertainty, some companies are stepping up. Firms like Herdmar, Procalçado, and Silvex are already working on pilot projects that link their products to QR codes, showcasing sustainability data from raw material sourcing to production methods. These companies believe that embracing the DPP will reinforce consumer trust, improve supply chain efficiency, and place Portugal at the forefront of eco-design and circular economy. Note, however, that voices from the sector argue that the EU risks indirectly “annihilating” European industries by demanding compliance from domestic firms while allowing non-compliant products to flood the market.
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3. An Assessment of AD’s Electoral Program: Ambition Without a Reformist Foundation
The AD’s (current government) electoral proposal is headed in the right direction but hasn’t yet fine-tuned the engine that can “steer the ship safely into port.” Its program projects an average annual GDP growth of 2.9% (more ambitious than the competition) and promises a reduction of the tax burden, notably through IRS and IRC cuts. However, the plan doesn’t adequately justify this ambition and fails to present the underlying economic model, nor does it provide a sensitivity analysis assessing risks such as the potential impact of a new trade war initiated by Trump. The program seems to lack quantified impacts, detailed reforms, and key fiscal details, undermining the credibility of its economic projections.
Despite forecasting small budget surpluses and a public debt-to-GDP ratio of 75.1% in 2029, AD seems to rely on optimistic growth expectations and a profound reform of the State that remains largely unspecified. Crucial structural changes like better public sector management, reduction in current primary spending, and increased public investment are mentioned but insufficiently developed. AD’s plan also seems to contradict its own growth optimism by projecting a reduction in public investment over time, and maintaining a 1:1 hiring-to-retirement ratio in public service shows a worrying lack of urgency. Additionally, there’s no clear commitment to territorial reorganization, and regionalization is absent from the agenda.
In other areas, the program also reveals inconsistencies and weak points. Its vision for EU funds lacks a firm commitment to high value-added and high-productivity projects. While it speaks of elevating the value added of the economy, the criteria remain vague and risk favoring generic over transformative investments. Taking this into account, in essence, AD proposes the right direction, but falls short of the reformist foundation needed to deliver on its promise of robust and sustainable growth.
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4. Legislative Elections: Study Shows 20.4% of Votes in the Last Election Did Not Elect MPs
Around 1.2 million votes were wasted in the last legislative elections, not resulting in the election of any MPs, making up 20.4% of all valid votes. These were votes without representation, disproportionately affecting inland territories and emigrant constituencies. According to mathematician Henrique Oliveira, there is a great inequality in the territory and in the emigration between the large districts and the small ones. In places like Lisbon, a vote almost certainly elects a deputy while in Portalegre, only two political forces at most can succeed.
The study reveals a major territorial inequality: in Portalegre, 49.5% of the votes were unconverted into seats; Beja, 48.4%; Europe, 46.8%; and Outside Europe, 45.6%. In contrast, about 90% of Lisbon’s votes and 84% in Porto did elect deputies. The interior is already often forgotten, said the mathematician, and still, it counts for less, democratically speaking, than the coast. Meanwhile, larger parties convert up to 90% of their votes into seats, while smaller ones remain under 45%. For example, PAN needed five times more votes than PS to elect a single MP.
To address this democratic deficit, solutions include a national compensation district or merging smaller regions, like Alentejo and Algarve into a larger district. As for inter-party inequality, the Israeli system was referenced, with a single national district that ensures higher representativity but would make absolute majorities practically impossible. It is important to consider that these findings expose deep imbalances in Portugal’s electoral framework, where some votes weigh less than others, and representation fails nearly a quarter of the electorate.
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5. The Portuguese President Has Had Doubts about the Anti-Corruption Mechanism from the Beginning
The President of the Republic explained that his doubts go back to when the mechanism was created. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that the National Anti-Corruption Mechanism was an entity linked to the Government, replacing an entity linked to the Court of Auditors, the Council for the Prevention of Corruption. As such, the mechanism, which was created not by the current government but by the previous government, has raised concerns from the outset, particularly regarding its independence and effectiveness.
President Marcelo declared that he had doubts about how well a mechanism to fight corruption would work if it depended on the executive branch. He emphasized that it becomes a bit difficult for such a mechanism to operate, when the ones doing the controlling, essentially, are born under the oversight of those who are to be controlled.
The President concluded with cautious skepticism. He said that anti-corruption mechanisms may work, but usually it’s not easy. Given the tone of his statement and the context of the new mechanism, it is possible to infer that the message signals a continued political and institutional unease over the alignment of anti-corruption oversight with executive authority.
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6. Complaints Soar in the Portuguese Tourism Sector
Complaints in Portugal’s tourism sector soared in the first quarter of 2025, with a 24% increase, totaling 1,585 grievances, compared to the same period last year. The Complaint Portal, a platform that was specifically created for that purpose, highlights a rising wave of consumer dissatisfaction, particularly directed at travel booking websites (58.2%) and airlines (18.8%). At the top of the complaint rankings are Ryanair and TAP, each responsible for more than a quarter of the issues. The primary causes cited include incorrect charges (53.6%), poor service and customer care (12.9%), and refund difficulties (12%).
Meanwhile, flights and baggage problems, from cancellations and delays to lost or damaged luggage, accounted for 8% of all complaints, followed by complaints involving dissatisfaction with products and services (3.3%). In the breakdown by airline, EasyJet, STP Airways, Vueling, and SATA follow Ryanair and TAP in complaint volume. Note, however, that, amid the bad reviews, several companies maintained positive reputations. Traventia, Airbnb, eDreams, and Rickytravel received Satisfaction Index scores above 80 points.
Independently of the positive notes, according to Pedro Lourenço, founder of the Complaint Portal, the sector suffers from disorganization, misinformation, and failure to respond, all aggravated by the regulators’ inaction. The complaints span the entire tourism ecosystem (from booking platforms to airlines and hotel chains), revealing a structural challenge in safeguarding consumer rights in a digital age. Such a context undermines trust and the sector’s reputation and, by consequence, the Portuguese economy.
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7. In Sintra, Over 4,000 Dancers Will Perform at the Corpo Festival
On April 26 and 27, bodies return to dance at Quinta da Ribafria, in Sintra, for the 17th edition of the Festival Corpo, an international dance festival that includes performances and workshops. Four thousand dancers from all over the world will take part in dance shows from morning to night, with free-entry workshops. The programming extends from dance to visual arts and crafts, offering a diverse range of styles, including ballet, hip-hop, kizomba, flamenco, contemporary dance, and Bollywood.
On Saturday, there will be two performances, between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm and again from 8:30 pm to 9:45 pm, with the participation of groups, schools, and professional dance companies. On Sunday, another dance showcase will take place from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, including styles such as burlesque, oriental, and tribal dance. Additionally, there will be a workshop on tile manufacturing and decorative stucco with a gilding technique, organized by the Professional School for the Restoration of Sintra’s Heritage, taking place at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm, with registration required via email. Between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, the boardwalk area of the estate will host artistic interventions, including aerobic and historical dance.
Throughout the two days, the festival will offer free bus rides, with several schedules between 10:00 am and 7:30 pm, connecting locations such as the Parque do Urbanismo de Sintra, the Portela de Sintra Interface Terminal, and the Rotunda do Continente. Note that, for those who cannot attend in person, the performances will be available via livestream. More importantly, the event remains free of charge and reaffirms its commitment to accessibility, diversity, and artistic dialogue, grounded in the historical and natural setting of Quinta da Ribafria.
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8. In April and May, Little Ones Can be Doctors Again at Hospital da Bonecada
From April 23 to May 4, the Hospital da Bonecada returns to the Central Plaza of Colombo Shopping Centre, where plush toys become patients and children become little doctors. In its 24th edition, the initiative promoted by the Students’ Association of NOVA Medical School takes place under the theme “The Child and Emotions,” aiming to help the little ones overcome the fear of going to the doctor and to discover more about emotional well-being. With the support of more than 1200 volunteers, the event encourages children to understand the value of emotions in their overall well-being.
Inside this imaginary hospital, children will find spaces that echo the reality of medical institutions: operating room, laboratory, medical imaging office, and triage. These thematic rooms offer an immersive experience, where children can familiarize themselves with procedures and medical instruments, creating a space where memories are built, fears are fought, and empathy is sown. As explained by project coordinator Margarida Gaspar, “the Hospital da Bonecada is much more than an educational activity. It is a bridge between medicine and childhood.”
Note that, beyond its educational mission, the event also has a solidarity dimension, supporting ANA (Acolher, Nutrir, Amar), an association that cares for Guinean children. Open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, the initiative is free of charge and transforms the Central Plaza into a hospital where play, learning, and care come together for twelve days, in a setting where children leave behind the White Coat Syndrome and step into the world of medicine through games, empathy, and imagination.
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9. Special Ladies’ Nights Where Women Take Over the Fine Dining in Portugal
Nine female chefs, five female sommeliers, and three restaurants – this is the structure of Ladies’ Night, an event aiming to spotlight female talent in fine dining, where visibility, and even more so, equality, are still lacking. Curated by Nelson Marques, alongside chefs Rui Paula and Catarina Correia, this series of three collaborative dinners begins at the two-Michelin-star Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, where women take the spotlight in both kitchen and cellar.
On May 8, Catarina Correia will host chefs Ana Moura, Aurora Goy, Louise Bourrat, and Marta Caldeirão, in a ten-course menu with wine pairings by Cátia Oliveira and Daniela Rodrigues, focusing on wines produced by Portuguese women winemakers. According to Chef Catarina Correia, we are living in a time when women are finally starting to take up more space in gastronomy but the path to equal opportunity is far from over. These nights are “about talent, strength, and solidarity.”
The second event arrives in July, at Boubou’s in Lisbon, with Rita Magro and Alessandra Montagne joining the lineup. The third, in October, will be held at Lamelas, in Porto Côvo. Note that these are special events. The goal was to take a sexist concept and turn it into evenings of empowerment. Even though these dinners are symbolic, they are full of intention. In short, they can be a call to make some noise to inspire change.
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10. Portugal Crowned European Roller Hockey Champion
Portugal was crowned the under-23 European roller hockey champion in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona, defeating reigning champion Spain in a penalty shootout (2-1) after a 4-4 draw in extra time.
After losing the inaugural edition of the U-23 European Championship to Spain in 2023 in Paredes, a tournament played in a round-robin format (a round-robin tournament or all-play-all tournament is a competition format in which each contestant meets every other participant, usually in turn), the Portuguese team claimed the title in one of the “cathedrals” of Spanish roller hockey.
Four goals by Lucas Honório, who had already scored five in Portugal’s 8-5 group-stage loss to Spain, allowed the team to push the match to penalties after a 3-3 draw in regular time and 4-4 in extra time. Note, however, that it was goalkeeper Gonçalo Bento who stood out in the shootout, helping secure the win.
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