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Martins, Paulo
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3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Portuguese government forms alliance with opposition
Following the lowering of the country's credit rating the Portuguese government and the opposition have joined forces in the battle against the debt crisis. The daily Jornal de Notícias comments on a meeting between Prime Minister José Sócrates and the leader of the opposition Pedro Passos Coelho: "Sócrates and Passos Coelho fell into each other's arms. What counts here is not just the political gesture ... but also the talks that contain a consensus. ... While the country has been brought to its knees by a rating agency that no one elected and no one controls, Passos Coelho has recognised that growth must first be sacrificed to the goal of bringing the state deficit under the stipulated limit. The two were also in agreement about the means for achieving this goal. Social security benefits are to be cut with immediate effect so that the markets calm down. Not even on the question of timing do the two major parties disagree. The socialist government, which initially wanted to wait until 2011 to introduce this measure, has now brought it forward. There you have it: agreement is reached through dialogue."
» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Social affairs, » Portugal
HIV tests for youths part and parcel of public health care
Portugal's youth welfare office wants to offer strictly confidential HIV tests to youths aged 12 to 25 in front of schools and discos and at music festivals. The plan, in particular the idea of testing minors and doing it in front of schools, has fanned a wave of protest. The daily Jornal De Notícias comments: "This measure is merely meant to combat a situation we refuse to acknowledge. Namely that a growing number of youths are putting themselves at risk and that ... 200 young people [in Portugal] between 10 and 19 are already infected. This situation must be addressed as a question of public health care. ... Not surprisingly, parts of the plan are being interpreted as an attack on the authority of the family. The people who say this are the same ones who oppose sex education and the distribution of condoms in schools. Do they really believe their children will fill them in on all the details of their sex lives? ... As with everything in life, common sense should rule the day. We should put our faith in the medical personnel and the maturity of the youths who chose to have themselves tested."
» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Health and Medicine, » Portugal
Secret CIA flights
Along with other European countries, Portugal granted fly-over rights in the past for CIA planes carrying presumed Islamic terrorists. Portuguese Foreign Minister Luís Amado explained yesterday that if Portugal's government has not made a statement on the matter, it was to avoid prejudicing EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who was Portuguese prime minister at the time. Jornal de Notícias critices this position: "Luís Amado is entirely right, Barroso should be spared inconvenience. He is an important man in the EU, and we are always proud when one of our emigrants is successful. ... As citizens, however, we have the right to know whether our government was aware at least of this one flight between Guantánamo and Cairo with a stop-over at the Portuguese military base [on the Azores Islands]. ... We have the right to know if the government authorised these flights or not, and if so under what conditions."
» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Portugal, » U.S.
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