Latest news and stories about foreign policy in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
The death toll for Portuguese citizens and their descendants in the Venezuelan earthquakes has reached 93, with 57 individuals still reported missing among nearly 3,000 total fatalities.
Political controversy surrounds the use of Lajes Field in the Azores by US aircraft, with opposition parties demanding an inquiry following conflicting statements from US Senator Marco Rubio and the Portuguese government regarding the authorization process.
The Portuguese government is considering deploying an additional aircraft carrying search and rescue personnel to assist in Venezuela.
Portugal is one of eight European countries that will send aid to Venezuela following the earthquakes that struck the country. Also, the fifth round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.
The number of confirmed deaths with ties to Portugal in Venezuela has risen to six, with 56 people of Portuguese descent still missing.
Following the investigation by Expresso and the Forbidden Stories consortium which revealed new information regarding the kidnapping and possible death of Américo Sebastião in Mozambique, Rodrigo Saraiva of the IL asserts that, 'in light of what is known today, it is not possible to say that the Portuguese State did everything it should have'. Fabian Figueiredo, of the Left Bloc, has sent questions to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice regarding this matter.
Since February 16, the US has made 81 stopovers and 24 overflights from the Lajes base, indicated the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The controversy surrounding the use of Lajes Field by the United States has returned to political debate. Luís Andrade, a full professor and researcher on Lajes Field, advocates for a revision of the agreement and states that Portugal would find it difficult to refuse a request from the United States.
At issue are statements by the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, regarding the potential lifting of Guinea-Bissau's suspension from the CPLP, while reiterating the demand for a return to constitutional order and the release of opposition leader Domingos Simões Pereira.
At issue are actions shared by Itamar Ben-Gvir in which the minister himself appears humiliating detainees from the Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla last month. The video showed dozens of activists with their hands tied behind their backs and their heads on the ground.
The request was made to the interim President of Venezuela by the Portuguese Ambassador in Caracas. Ambassador Frederico Silva, in an interview with the Lusa agency, also assesses the 5 months of North American intervention in Venezuela.
The Portuguese government has requested that Delcy Rodríguez review the legal status of five individuals of Portuguese-Venezuelan descent currently held as political prisoners.
The vote is taking place at the UN General Assembly and is being monitored by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Also, a roundup of the protests in Lisbon and Porto ahead of Luís Montenegro's statement.
Pacheco Pereira, a commentator for CNN Portugal, reflects on the Portuguese government's response to the controversy surrounding Israel's treatment of the humanitarian flotilla activists.
The Portuguese executive condemned this Wednesday the “intolerable behaviour” of the Minister of National Security, Ben Gvir, and “the treatment inflicted on the flotilla activists in a humiliating violation of human dignity”.
At issue is a video published by the Israeli Minister of National Security, in which activists from the flotilla to Gaza appear tied up and forced to kneel.
The families of these Portuguese citizens had requested hearings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, and the head of state, António José Seguro.
Socialist leader rejects commission of inquiry but demands a hearing for the minister in Parliament to explain the contradiction between Rubio and the Government regarding the conditions for the use of Lajes Base.
The two Portuguese citizens detained in Cypriot waters while travelling to Gaza on a humanitarian mission were transported to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Their families have requested hearings with the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
When Carneiro is closer to Fabian than Rangel, he either hasn't read the polls or was poorly advised. Regarding the PS's subservience, one only needs to search Google for 'CIA flights', 'Guantanamo', and 'Lajes'.
Paulo Rangel stated that “there is no element of confidentiality” and that he is available to provide clarifications to Parliament in an “open-door session” regarding the use of Lajes.
During the same statements, Paulo Rangel also accused the Socialist Party and its leadership of having adopted a “manifestly unacceptable” stance regarding the controversy surrounding the Lajes Base.
In an interview with Fox News, Marco Rubio even said that this authorisation was given even before Portugal knew what the request would be.
José Luís Carneiro demands that Paulo Rangel clarify the use of Lajes Field by the United States and accuses the government of having placed the country in a “lamentable situation”. In defence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nuno Melo says that Portugal did what had to be done.
The US Secretary of State said that Portugal had given authorisation, without question, for the US military to use Lajes Base even before the offensive against Iran. The Government denied it, but Paulo Rangel's statements before the war confirm what Marco Rubio said.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs stated this Friday that the Government defends national sovereignty and acts while respecting the 'legal mechanisms applicable to the use of national territory', after the PCP argued that Portugal 'is not an appendix' of the United States. This position was taken during the opening speech of this morning's plenary debate, scheduled by...
The party points out that Marco Rubio's thanks to Portugal are “authentic evidence of the crime” regarding Portuguese involvement.
Venezuelan citizens are calling for greater support from the Portuguese government and increased focus on the situation of individuals currently in custody.
The Prime Minister of Portugal also welcomed the release of Portuguese-Venezuelan Héctor Ferreira Domingues, who had been detained since September 2022
The initiatives were presented by Chega, the Socialist Party, Liberal Initiative, and Livre.
