Ombudsman demands urgent explanation for police charge at housing protest
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Housing protests in the capital have left the government in the familiar position of balancing public order against public image. Minister Seguro expressed concern over a police charge but declined to take a position on it; the Ombudsman was less patient, demanding an immediate report from the Public Security Police. Some protesters are currently in custody awaiting a prosecutor's decision, while others are holding training sessions on how to handle the police before camping outside Parliament again.
The government is entering the final ten hours of debate on the 2027 budget with its own assurance of a happy ending. Not everyone shares the optimism: a Constitutional Court ruling has placed the property tax revenue from hydroelectric dams and wind farms in 135 municipalities at risk. It appears the interior's green energy windfall may be legally precarious.
The police have announced plans to deport more than 1,000 people by the end of the year, which would be one of the highest annual totals on record. In a separate audit of national assets, the country's brand value was estimated at €257.1 billion. The valuation relies heavily on two of its most recognizable exports: Cristiano Ronaldo and the city of Lisbon.