After airing an opinion piece criticizing Portugal’s Angola politics, a radio show is pulled and questions about censorship abound. Is the dire economic situation undermining Portugal’s democratic institutions?
We lead this week with a look at a new Open Society report assessing the Portuguese government's rejection of the 'war on drugs' in 2000, and decriminalization of drug possession and use. What lessons can be learnt from this experience? ~ MW
Portugal decriminalized all drugs 10 years ago and the results are in: decreased youth drug use, falling overdose and HIV/AIDS rates, less crime, reduced criminal justice expenditures, greater access to drug treatment, and safer and healthier communities ~ MW & CS
Last night, Portugal joined the ranks of 21 of its fellow European states by electing a right-wing government. Can it lead the country out of its historical crisis?
The Europe that is dying is the one that remains hostage to its past. Another Europe is not only possible but is in fact fast becoming an urgent necessity. This would be a Europe of vitality, open to connections, that has let go of its civilisational conceits
Europe’s leaders are reversing their historically generous role in assisting countries out of criminality and fascism. What we are seeing now therefore strikes at the heart of the European project not just the euro.
A comic duo in the Eurovision, a new hymn against high-qualified slave labour and a Facebook protest on March 12, brought back the dormant spirit of revolution to the streets of Lisbon.
