Latest news and stories about cost of living in government in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
PSD leader Luís Montenegro announced that a new 20-euro monthly public transport pass will be implemented in the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas beginning in September.
Government demand incentives for first-time homebuyers are clashing with supply shortages and demographic shifts, drawing criticism from the IMF and Bank of Portugal over potential impacts on housing prices.
Economist Ricardo Reis predicts that inflation will peak between 3% and 3.5% following his participation in the ECB Forum in Sintra.
This Tuesday features key economic updates including INE's June inflation estimates, the deadline for IRS tax filings, and the second day of the European Central Bank's annual forum in Sintra.
This Wednesday features key economic data releases from the INE, a parliamentary hearing for Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, the election of the Nova University of Lisbon rector, and significant institutional inaugurations alongside political debates.
A section of a newspaper or publication where readers' letters are published.
The Casa para Viver platform is petitioning the President of Portugal to declare the housing crisis a national emergency, advocating for rent controls and eviction protections ahead of nationwide protests.
Leader of Chega, Ventura, has called on the Government to return the additional VAT revenue generated from the recent rise in fuel prices, emphasizing the need to differentiate between individuals and businesses. He criticized the Government's response to the fuel price crisis, particularly the insufficient discount on road diesel, and plans to push for an urgent debate in the Assembly of the Republic.
Chega plans to propose the reinstatement of zero VAT on essential goods, a measure they aim to limit until the end of the year. Additionally, the party is advocating for further government action to reduce fuel taxes.
After Lisbon and Porto urban lines were opened to the possibility of sub‑concession, the mayor of Cascais has proposed that Cascais — together with Oeiras and Lisbon — take over management of the Cascais suburban line and make train journeys within the municipality free for residents, workers and students. The proposal reframes the sub‑concession debate as an opportunity for local control but raises practical questions about funding the revenue shortfall, coordinating services across municipalities, the legal and contractual steps required, and the potential impacts on ridership, local traffic and equity.
The party will once again insist on measures to curb the rising cost of living, including proposals that the PS has already brought to parliament twice and which were rejected.
In operation since April 10, the system allows consumers to recover the 10-cent deposit value per container paid at the time of purchase for single-use plastic, metal, and aluminium bottles and cans under three litres.
The Government has already allocated approximately one billion euros through the ISP discount. This figure is expected to reach 1.3 billion euros by the end of the year, according to the Minister of Environment and Energy. Maria da Graça Carvalho reiterated that the Executive is preparing new support measures for transport.
The PS parliamentary leader accuses Chega of helping the Government by presenting bills to reduce VAT on fuel and apply zero VAT to essential food items that only take effect in January. In a press conference at the PS national headquarters in Lisbon, Eurico Brilhante Dias argued that these measures...
The leader of Chega spoke out this Saturday, September 12, to rebut criticisms from the socialist leadership and return accusations of inconsistency regarding the discussion on energy tax relief. In a press conference at the party's national headquarters in Lisbon, André Ventura pointed the finger at José Luís Carneiro, categorically rejecting that the Chega parliamentary group had blocked the reduction of prices at the pumps. 'The Socialist Party lies when it says that it was Chega that made these proposals unfeasible. It was the Socialist Party that, in agreement with the AD, made it unfeasible for fuel prices to effectively drop, as well as for there to be an exemption from tolls on bridges or SCUTs,' the party leader maintained. The response follows statements by the PS secretary-general, who had accused Chega in the morning of blocking previous initiatives to alleviate the tax burden on energy and essential goods. Carneiro accuses Ventura of trying to deceive the Portuguese about fuel prices. Ventura refuted the facts invoked by the socialist leader and challenged the scrutiny of the Assembly of the Republic's work: 'We just need to go through the archive of parliamentary proposals to verify that the Socialist Party did not present a single bill on fuel or zero VAT.' The exchange of accusations precedes the parliamentary scheduling for September 24, the date on which Chega will bring to the plenary a bill to cut the fuel VAT rate from 23% to 13%, together with a measure to apply a zero rate to essential food basket goods. Chega proposes zero VAT on food, a reduction in fuel prices, and an end to tolls on the Tagus. Protest in Espinho near Montenegro's house against fuel prices.
The Chega party, led by André Ventura, has submitted three legislative initiatives to Parliament aimed at addressing the rising cost of living. These include a temporary 0% VAT rate on essential food items, a reduction of VAT on road fuels to 13%, and the abolition of tolls on the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges. The proposals, which also call for negotiations with Lusoponte regarding the end of their concession in 2030, are scheduled for debate in the plenary session on September 24.
Following the interest rate hikes decreed by the ECB, the PCP has announced a protest for September 17th calling for wage increases and price controls. Additionally, a fire at Café Nicola in Lisbon has been extinguished.
The initiative was announced by communist leader Vasco Cardoso during a press conference at the PCP national headquarters in Lisbon.
Only Chega voted in favour of its motion of no confidence in the Government at the end of an afternoon marked by the announcement of measures for pensioners and the middle class. Montenegro went to Parliament to defend Neves, but above all to show that he still has political initiative.
André Ventura was speaking at a 'rentrée' initiative of the Chega party's Lisbon district branch, which took place in the municipality of Loures (Lisbon district).
The president of Lusoponte rules out the possibility of abolishing tolls, although he notes that the decision rests with the Portuguese State.
The president of the IL demanded an urgent tax cut on fuel this Friday, claiming that taxes account for 'more than half' of what it costs the Portuguese to refuel, and accusing the Government of being 'completely inert' in the face of price increases. 'Fuel prices are rising consecutively week after week. The State continues to...'
The government's fuel price discount via tax reductions will be 7.4 cents per litre for diesel and 4.6 cents per litre for petrol, it was announced this Friday, 17 July. Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated that the government decided to increase the discount due to expected price hikes from markets and retailers. He added that the government aims to ensure the state does not profit from the war or inflation, particularly regarding fuel prices.
An analysis of Portugal's current socio-economic situation, highlighting the rising cost of living, the housing crisis, and the decline of public services such as healthcare and education under the current government. The text criticises specific policies, including those of Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, and points to poor economic performance and public finance management as evidence of the nation's deteriorating state.
Following Pedro Duarte's initiative to provide free public transport for Porto residents, the Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) is challenging Carlos Moedas to follow suit in Lisbon. The party has submitted a proposal to the Lisbon City Council aiming for universal free public transport for residents by the end of 2027. Councillor Carolina Serrão argues that mobility is an essential public service rather than an individual expense. The proposal includes a phased implementation plan and emphasizes the need for increased investment in the transport network. However, the current municipal coalition, led by Moedas, is expected to reject the measure due to concerns over financial sustainability and service capacity.
Chega will move forward with a bill to this effect before the new increase in fuel prices next week. Additionally, traffic has resumed on the Vasco da Gama Bridge following the accident.
André Ventura announced a draft law after warning of a “brutal increase” in fuel prices expected for next week and criticising the asymmetry between price hikes and cuts.
Tenants from the Bairro dos Lóios neighbourhood expose a calculation formula based on a marker that is “completely out of touch with the real cost of living”. They speak of the accumulation of “ghost debts” due to delays by the State.
The campaign aims to explain the importance of reducing VAT on veterinary medical services from 23% to 6%.
