Latest news and stories about sexual harassment in Portugal for expats and residents.
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The Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) registered 3,480 complaints of moral (psychological) harassment and sexual harassment at work, yet imposed only 20 sanctions, highlighting a large gap between complaints and enforcement.
Women's speeches marked the final day of the first round of Luís Marques Mendes's presidential campaign. Leonor Beleza and PSD MP Eva Brás Pinho subtly referenced the sexual harassment allegations made against João Cotrim de Figueiredo.
Inês Bichão says that on Monday, 12 January, content originally shared in a restricted, non-public context 'was illicitly disseminated' without her consent.
On the penultimate day, the alleged sexual harassment case once again marked João Cotrim de Figueiredo's campaign. In the morning, a former adviser to Iniciativa Liberal issued a statement saying the incidents were reported to the party in 2023. The candidate says he is deeply upset by the matter and claims he is the victim of a character assassination with the complicity of journalists.
Former Iniciativa Liberal president Rui Rocha said today that he never received any complaint against João Cotrim Figueiredo, who is being accused of sexual harassment by a former parliamentary aide to the party.
The candidate for Belém accuses the media of echoing an allegation of sexual harassment, which he and the party he once led deny having known about.
The former president of Iniciativa Liberal, Rui Rocha, said on Thursday that he never received any complaint against João Cotrim Figueiredo, who is being accused of sexual harassment by a former parliamentary aide of the party. “The accusations that have been discussed in recent days are apparently attributed to the period when I was president of Iniciativa Liberal. ...
The presidential candidate says the media should 'look into the nature of the complaint'.
A few hours after saying it “makes no sense” to continue discussing the alleged sexual harassment complaints that have cast a shadow over his presidential campaign since they emerged on Monday, João Cotrim Figueiredo returned to the topic, this time pointing the finger at the media. He made the remarks at the end of a visit ...
The candidate for Belém insisted he had no knowledge of any internal complaint within the party, despite an alleged internal complaint having been lodged in 2023.
Authors of the book “#MeToo A Very Public Secret — Sexual Harassment in Portugal” say the alleged victim contacted them in 2024. PÚBLICO witnessed and reported the meeting.
The candidate reiterates he was unaware of the sexual harassment complaint allegedly reported to IL two years ago. He says Mariana Leitão “is a person of integrity” and is counting on the IL leader to be at today's rally.
The alleged sexual harassment case involving Cotrim de Figueiredo resurfaced in the campaign on Thursday. A former aide says she reported it internally to IL. The candidate and the party deny her account.
A former aide reported the case internally during 2023 and says the veracity of the facts will be determined in court. Also, Portugal has not seen this many babies born in ten years.
João Cotrim de Figueiredo insists that he “was not aware of the sexual harassment incidents” alleged by a former parliamentary assistant of IL, and laments that his campaign is being “completely hijacked by this issue”.
Criticising journalists for continuing to press him, the candidate said 'there is no point in continuing on this subject'
The statements come after Inês Bichão said she reported the sexual harassment internally during 2023.
The former IL adviser who accused Cotrim of sexual harassment says the complaint was reported 'within the party' in 2023. Inês Bichão criticises the disclosure of the post and the threats.
A former adviser to Iniciativa Liberal says she reported alleged harassment by Cotrim in 2023, while the party maintains that no internal complaint was filed.
The former aide to the IL parliamentary group said the Instagram post about alleged sexual harassment targeting Cotrim de Figueiredo was shared without her consent, adding that 'the veracity of the facts' will be determined in court.
Candidates lose their common sense and opt for personal attacks and mudslinging to distance themselves from their opponents. And did the accusation of sexual harassment destroy Cotrim's candidature?
Alberto Gonçalves comments on the allegation of harassment against João Cotrim Figueiredo.
The presidential candidate Cotrim Figueiredo today described the allegation of sexual harassment by a former parliamentary aide of IL as 'the dirtiest kind of political manoeuvre' and urged the Portuguese not to be fooled.
The presidential candidate reiterated that he has 'nothing to hide' and asks for the confidence of the Portuguese.
