1. President Marcelo Declares That the Restart of the Electric System Was Not Quick Enough
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that the restart of the national electric system after the blackout was not quick enough, emphasizing that this incident revealed vulnerabilities that need to be addressed for the future. The President acknowledged that there were communication problems, particularly with the delay in receiving Civil Protection SMS messages, a fact he noted has been recognized by both the Government and SIRESP.
In his remarks regarding the situation, the President indicated that, although the Government claims the balance is ultimately positive, the opposition highlights new issues that need to be considered. He emphasized that the key lesson from such situations is to prepare for future challenges after experiencing them. As such, he expressed hope that the independent technical commission investigating the blackout would provide valuable insights in a timely manner, and that the country may learn significant lessons from it.
It is important to consider that the President confirmed that he had closely followed the situation, maintaining a respectful stance toward the previous technical commission and avoiding earlier comments.
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2. Government Confirms That More Than 4,500 Immigrants Will Have to Leave Portugal
Over 4,500 immigrants in Portugal will be requested to leave voluntarily within 20 days, with expulsion looming if they fail to comply. This follows the confirmation from the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, that a significant number of residence permit requests have been rejected for reasons such as criminal offenses, irregular stays in other countries, or missing documentation. These notifications come from the Agency for Integration, Migrations, and Asylum (AIMA), part of efforts to regulate immigration in Portugal, which has more than 400,000 pending immigration cases.
More recently, the Portuguese government has adopted a stance of “regulated immigration,” emphasizing that non-compliance with immigration rules will have consequences. For obvious reasons, the Minister stressed the importance of enforcing this law, asserting that immigrants who violate Portuguese and European regulations must face the legal consequences, including a 20-day voluntary departure deadline, after which forced removals will occur. This marks the first batch of notifications stemming from over 18,000 rejected applications that will be processed in a more structured and timely manner.
However, despite the new stance, Minister António Leitão Amaro noted the difficulty in executing forced removals after the abolition of the SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service), and blamed the rejection of government proposals by PS and Chega for exacerbating the issue. Note that the government’s actions reflect the broader goal of resolving long-standing immigration cases and ensuring a more efficient immigration process, with the aim of prioritizing justice for those who comply with the rules. Additionally, it is important to consider that this policy change also follows the termination of the “expressions of interest” program, which allowed immigrants to regularize their status without prior visas.
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3. Electoral Campaign Starts With an Aggressive Tone
The official campaign for the May 18 legislative elections has begun, with party leaders already on the streets, prepared to win over voters in an aggressive tone that is expected to be disengaging and not very enlightening. Key issues such as the ongoing crisis in the National Health Service (SNS), housing affordability, the rising cost of living, and taxes will dominate the political discourse. The controversy surrounding Luís Montenegro’s family business, Spinumviva, has reignited, with the opposition, particularly the PS, seizing the opportunity to tarnish his image, although experts suggest that its media impact may be stronger than its electoral influence.
Many political scientists predict the campaign will be “harsh, aggressive, and violent,” with parties focusing on discrediting opponents. However, they caution that this tone could lead to voter confusion, as the campaign might lack clarity and fail to mobilize the electorate. While both major parties, AD and PS, accuse each other over various issues, including the responsibility for early elections, it seems that the PS is struggling to capitalize on the weakened position of the Prime Minister. Recent polls show that the AD, led by Montenegro, has an advantage in terms of electability and stability, with no signs of a left-wing parliamentary majority emerging.
Note that the campaign will also see an intense focus on tactical voting, with parties looking for the support of smaller parties and independent voters. The PS is positioned to appeal to voters seeking stability, leveraging their achievements like the rise in the minimum wage and pension bonuses. Meanwhile, the AD aims to advocate for strategic voting to weaken the left. Ultimately, the success of these efforts, alongside smaller parties’ attempts to influence government alliances, will shape the outcome of this highly competitive election. The campaign will culminate with the traditional closing parades in Lisbon, where all leaders will face off in a televised debate.
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4. Local Accommodation Pays Higher IRS in Urban Pressure Areas
Owners of Local Accommodation (AL) properties in urban pressure areas pay more IRS compared to those outside these zones. In areas with housing shortages, businesses are taxed on 50% of their earnings, while outside these areas, only 35% of the profits are taxed. This difference is due to the application of the IRS Code’s rules, where tax is applied to earnings under category B (self-employed). Those opting for the simplified regime, available for earnings under €200,000 annually, must apply a coefficient to their earnings, but they cannot deduct actual expenses, only presumed ones.
To declare AL income, taxpayers must open a business activity with the appropriate economic activity code (CAE) and report earnings in the IRS Model 3 declaration. For properties in containment zones, they must also fill in additional sections of the form. If the income exceeds €200,000, the taxpayer must follow the organized accounting regime, where all earnings are taxed, but deductions are allowed for actual expenses. Organized accounting becomes advantageous when activity costs exceed 65% of the income, as it allows for full cost deductions.
Furthermore, Local Accommodation income is subject to the aggregation rule, meaning it is added to other income, such as salaries, for tax purposes. Progressive IRS rates apply, potentially reaching up to 48%, with a solidarity surcharge if applicable. Additionally, any non-refundable reservation amounts are also taxable. However, property owners who convert AL properties to residential rentals can benefit from an exemption on rental income, provided the property was used for AL until 2022 and the rental contract is signed by December 2024.
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5. Looking for Sunny Terraces in Lisbon? There’s an App for That
The Sunseekr app has arrived to revolutionize the search for a spot in the sun, showing which bars and cafés are in the sun in Lisbon at different times of day. The interactive map displays cafés and bars with the most sunlight at any given moment, taking into account the sun’s position and the height of surrounding buildings, offering highly accurate information on sunny or shaded terraces.
Created by Mo Dawod, an architect by training, Sunseekr began as an experimental design project posted on Reddit. Using real-time shadow simulations, Mapbox navigation software, and OpenStreetMap data, the app earned instant praise. According to the words of one Reddit user: “Honestly, this deserves a Nobel Prize.” After its success in London, Lisbon, which is one of Europe’s sunniest capitals, is now filled with “yellow suns” on the app’s map.
The goal is that, with Sunseekr, users can plan ahead and adjust the time in the top bar to see which spots nearby will be bathed in sunlight. If it gets too hot, there is no problem, because the app also shows the best shaded spots to cool down. Note that the team plans to add more places, including restaurants, but, for now, you can use the app to make the most of the best cafés and bars, or consult Time Out’s curated lists for extra guidance.
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6. Eclipse in the Algarve: Four Michelin-Starred Chefs Light Up Solalua
Solalua, the fine dining restaurant at the Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, will become a hilltop retreat where culinary worlds converge to create “Eclipse”, a series of four-hands dinners from May through November. Resident chef Pedro Pinto joins four leading figures of contemporary Portuguese cuisine (Vasco Coelho Santos, Henrique Sá Pessoa, Alexandre Silva, and Louise Bourrat) for intimate experiences limited to just 25 guests each. Each duo crafts a 10-course tasting menu, with five dishes by Pedro Pinto and five by the guest chef, creating a “celebration of creativity and a deep respect for the land.”
The first dinner, with Vasco Coelho Santos (Euskalduna Studio, 1 Michelin star), was set for May 2,3, followed by Henrique Sá Pessoa (Alma, 2 stars) in July, Alexandre Silva (Loco, 1 star) in September, and Louise Bourrat (BouBou’s) in November. Curated by Nelson Marques, author of “Chefs Sem Reservas”, the concept draws from the very soul of Solalua, the sun and the moon, “two celestial bodies that rarely meet, but when they do, magic happens.”
Pedro Pinto’s cuisine is known as poetic, sensory, and deeply rooted in the land, with dishes like a crab cream-filled Bola de Berlim, beignet with goat milk and honey sorbet, and an oyster cocktail with Rocha pear and wild river mint. Set in the American brand’s first hotel in Portugal, where architecture merges with nature and luxury takes on a sense of calm, diners at Solalua enjoy time to feel and the rare chance to “dine under the stars.
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7. Bordalo II Turns Cais do Sodré into a Monopoly Board: “Where the Right to Housing Is Like a Game”
The Portuguese artist Bordalo II has transformed Praça Duque da Terceira, in Cais do Sodré, into a giant Monopoly board titled Provoc. The new installation covers part of the square with a canvas structure that recreates, on a magnified scale, the aesthetic of the classic board game. However, in this case, each “property” bears the name of a Portuguese location like Campo Grande, Rossio, or Avenida de Fernão de Magalhães, and has price tags ranging from €6,000 to €40,000.
Known for using recycled materials and large-scale works, the 38-year-old artist draws attention to social, political, and environmental issues through his interventions. With the title “where the right to housing is like a game,” he attempted to reflect the widespread feeling that the real estate market operates more like a speculative game than an essential right.
Note that Bordalo II has addressed the housing crisis before, with a work called Local Displacement, in 2024, which consisted of four tents painted to look like houses in central Lisbon. Additionally, he has also tackled themes like the climate crisis, corruption, war, and fascism. Past works include “Freedom – Anti-Fascist Probiotic”, a giant pill box placed on the grave of the Portuguese dictator Salazar, and “Walk of Shame”, a crosswalk made of €500 bills, criticizing the public money spent on World Youth Day.
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8. At This Pop-Up Restaurant, People Eat What Artificial Intelligence Decides
Sem Igual is a pop-up restaurant by Samsung, where guests choose ingredients, and the Samsung Galaxy S25’s AI creates the dishes. With no menu, diners select from 25 ingredients displayed under glass domes, including options like grilled salmon, veal, asparagus, and basmati rice. The goal of the venue, which will be open on May 8 and 9 in Belém, is to create an immersive experience that showcases the potential of AI in culinary creation, where “no dish is the same,” reflecting the name Sem Igual (Without Equal).
The process begins when guests photograph the ingredients they wish to use, upload them to the phone’s AI system, Gemini, and request a recipe. Once the ingredients are recognized (despite occasional misidentifications), the AI generates a customized meal. The final recipe is then sent to a number connected to the kitchen, where a team prepares the dish, with each plate arriving within 30 to 40 minutes. Note that the experience will be free, but reservations are required due to limited seating for 20 people at a time.
After the Lisbon debut, Sem Igual will move to Porto on May 16 and 17, further reinforcing its goal of demonstrating the creative potential of AI and publicizing the new Samsung Galaxy S25, all by offering a unique culinary journey where the intersection of technology and dining provides a personal, experimental experience.
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9. Arroios Market Will Host a Vinyl Fair
The vinyl fair “Analógica” returns to Arroios Market from May 9 to 11 for its second edition, offering free entry to visitors. This year, the fair will feature around 40 exhibitors, including independent Portuguese labels, stores, musicians, and artists such as Príncipe Discos, Cuca Monga, Wasser Bassin, and Mondo Negro. Stalls will showcase vinyl records, cassettes, rare editions, and sound equipment, aiming to offer a comprehensive experience for music enthusiasts.
Alongside record sales, the event will host a program of workshops, live performances, and DJ sessions. Highlights include DJ Johnny Suede’s set blending EBM, Dark Italo, and Leftfield, on Friday, and, on Saturday, workshops on magnetic tape loops by Daniel Pinheiro and Fernando Fadigas, and a badge-making workshop for children with Marta San. Artists GABBEROLAS and Bernardo Álvares will also perform live, with experimental sets fusing improvisation, electronics, and Portuguese tradition.
On May 11, additional workshops include a session on building contact microphones by Diogo Melo, and a special concert by Julinho da Concertina. Note that all activities are free, but workshop participation requires registration via email ([email protected]). When it comes to the opening hours, the fair will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and, on Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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10. There Are Now 404 Blue Flag Beaches in Portugal
Portugal now has 404 beaches flying the Blue Flag in 2025, a slight increase from the 398 recognized in 2024. This prestigious distinction, which guarantees high environmental quality, safety, accessibility, and information for bathers, was announced by the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE) at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium in Oeiras. Note that, along with the blue flag beaches, Portugal has also earned 18 marina awards, 22 ecotourism vessels, and 23 Blue Centres dedicated to environmental education.
Among this year’s highlights is the return of Sintra’s beaches (Adraga, Grande, Maçãs, and Magoito) after a ten-year absence period. This return ensures that, now, every coastal municipality in Portugal has at least one Blue Flag beach, providing continuous coverage across the country.
Apart from these returns, in addition to the Algarve’s continued dominance, the Centre region added several new beaches, including Barra do Sul (Aveiro) and Costa Nova Sul (Ílhavo). The Tagus river basin saw new entries such as Olhos d’Água do Alviela and Alvares, while Alentejo gained more coastal and river beaches, including Monte Velho and Porto das Carretas/Albarquel. The Azores and Madeira also saw new additions, with the Azores having 46 Blue Flag beaches and Madeira 18, including notable beaches such as Prainha in Caniçal.
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