'365 Algarve' programme - 'a failure and lack of results' blasts hotel chief

elidericoviegasA row has broken out over the success, or otherwise, of the '365 Algarve' promotional programme and whether it was designed to increase tourism or merely, ‘to give people choices.’

The programme is half way through its October 2016 to May 2017 run and Dália Paulo, in charge of the series of events, says the purpose is to give people a choice of cultural events across the region.

Popular Monchique mayor hits back at censure motion

monchiquemayorA pre-election row has erupted in the hillside town hall of Monchique as mayor Rui André comes under heavy fire from his Socialist Party opposition which has managed to push through a motion of censure.

The motion was approved at a meeting of the Municipal Assembly of Monchique last Thursday.

Knifeman fled by Eurostar after stabbing Portuguese man in London

eurotunnelA Portuguese man living in London was stabbed to death on July 21st last year.

Bradley Quaresma was knifed at the packed West Ham Lane Recreation Ground in front of horrified families. 

The poor place added burden on Portugal's health service

beggarPortugal’s poorest familes, 140,000 of them, do not have enough money for adequate food.

Many now are reliant on the country’s food bank system, with family heads saying that their lack of income means the quantity and quality of food they have available for consumption is severly compromised.

President says Troika failed to spot banking sector's weakness

rebeloMerkelThe President of the Republic gave the Bank of Portugal governor a free pass today by blaming the state of the country’s banking system on the Troika, rather than on the country's banking regulator who failed to spot that the light at the end of tunnel was, in fact, an approaching train..

Marcelo Rebelo da Sousa (pictured left with Germany's chancellor) said the Troika should have spotted that Portugal’s banks had chronic weaknesses and really should have done something about it sooner.

Algarve Finanças offices 'damp, dangerous and poorly equipped'

financasThe Algarve’s most active MP, Paulo Sá from the Communist Party, has asked the government what it is going to do about the appalling state of many of the region’s Finanças offices.

Sá noted the Dickensian conditions at the offices in Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Monchique, São Brás de Alportel and Vila do Bispo.

Jews from around the world apply for Portuguese nationality

jewishlogoJews from Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Canada, Australia, Spain, Russia, Colombia and France were awarded Portuguese nationality in 2016 under new legislation to right a wrong going back over 500 years.

More than 400 descendants of Jews expelled from Portugal received nationality, led by 271 Turks, 81 Israelis and 48 Brazilians.

VRSA post-privatisation water charges to rise - '50% over seven years'

water2Socialist Party councillors in Vila Real de Santo António continue to accuse the council's executive of embarking on a water privatisation process that will end in tears, as well as significantly higher water charges for customers.

The Social Democrat-run council wants to grant local water and waste management to a private company but the council opposition claims this would see water rates rise “50 percent over the next seven years."