The president of Caritas, the Catholic Church's charity, claims that 18.3% of the Portuguese live in poverty and called on the Portuguese to put a candle in the window of their homes on Monday from 8:00 p.m. in recognition of this fact.
After a ceremony at the Palace of Belém on Sunday, Portugal’s President received the "Light of Peace" candle that symbolises peace, love and solidarity, handed to him by Caritas.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke of the need for a fairer world and, referring to Portugal’s 1.8 million people living in poverty, said there is there is no peace where there is poverty, inequality, injustice, intolerance and incomprehension.
Without an "appreciable change" on the part of all to tackle the problem, the risk of poverty and inequality will continue, said the President, adding, "until we are able, as a country, to face this problem, peace is a dream not a reality."
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that his thoughts go out, "to the homeless, those without family, those who are detained or in hospital, who also have a right to a Christmas but will have no Christmas."
The Christmas massage from the Social Democrats leader, Rui Rio, emphasised a year in which the State had failed.
Rio's 2018 summary is one of unremitting darkness, "I do not remember security failing the Portuguese as much as in 2018, even after it failed in 2017."
The PSD leader's Christmas video stressed that, "the state has not been able to guarantee, as it must guarantee, the safety of people," during 2018.
Rio then trotted out the various failings of the Socialist administration, noting the poor response to the summer fires, the recent crash of the INEM helicopter when help arrived hours late and the collapse of the road at the quarry in Borba, "that everyone knew was unsafe.”
The PSD leader noted the Tancos arms thefts which still have not been resolved and which he called a maximum security failure."
Poor healthcare, long waiting lists, high rents, low minimum wage, the list was a long one from the party leader whose political contribution this year has been negligible.
Generously, Rui Rio did offer his help and cooperation on matters that would help the nation, "I am available to give all the contribution that an opposition party can give so that Portugal can have a better life," concluded the magnanimous one before offering his good wishes to all and sundry.
The Socialist response was forthright, accusing Rui Rio of having created, "a virtual and alternative reality" in his Christmas message, and of “abandoning the truth.”
The response, fielded MP Pedro Delgado Alves, in defence of the government’s record, focused on economic growth, the return of income to families, public services in a state of recovery and healthy public accounts.
The Socialist Party, according to Alves, "is the first to recognise that there is much work to do in many of these areas," recalling that Portugal "is in a period of financial recovery," and that, "the country is on a course that is one that has returned hope and confidence to the Portuguese."
