### Increased Pressure on Emergency Services

The surge in **respiratory infections** and patients with **complex clinical conditions** is straining emergency services across Portugal. Many hospitals are experiencing **longer waiting times** as they adapt to the growing demand.

### Response to Rising Needs

In light of this situation, several healthcare units are **increasing their inpatient bed capacity** to accommodate the influx of patients. This proactive measure aims to ensure that those requiring urgent medical attention receive timely care.

By enhancing their resources, hospitals hope to alleviate the pressure on emergency departments and improve patient outcomes during this challenging period.

Planos de contingência estão a ser activados para responder ao aumento das necessidades. Unidades referem maior número de doentes complexos que precisam de internamento.

Hospitals in Portugal Expand Bed Capacity Amid Rising Emergency Pressures

![FNAM Advocates for Public Health](https://www.fnam.pt/images/2025/04/01/CI%20SP.jpg)

**The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM)** unites the Northern, Central, and Southern Medical Unions to defend the rights and interests of physicians and the National Health Service (SNS). Despite being in management mode, the Ministry of Health, led by Ana Paula Martins, is attempting to reorganize the Public Health map in a way that **violates the law** and limits access to healthcare for the population.

The proposal to reduce the five regional health delegations (North, Center, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo, Algarve) to three (North, Center, South) is a **serious attack** on the decentralized organization of healthcare in Portugal. This move would exacerbate existing inequalities in the southern regions, particularly affecting Alentejo and Algarve.

The attempt to merge the health structures of Alentejo and Algarve into a "**Southern Regional Delegation**" alongside the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region violates the **Decree-Law No. 54/2024**. This proposal disregards the unique needs of these regions, which require autonomy to respond effectively to their specific realities. It will worsen the disparities in healthcare services and perpetuate inadequate access for local populations.

Both Alentejo and Algarve are experiencing an **extreme shortage of healthcare professionals**, limiting access to specialized services and facing geographical dispersion and seasonality issues. These regions cannot be treated merely as extensions of the capital or summer destinations; their populations deserve respect and public health services that meet their needs.

The FNAM demands adherence to the **law** and the **Statute of the National Health Service (SNS)** by maintaining Regional Health Delegations. This ensures that Alentejo and Algarve retain their own structures and that decisions regarding public health are made by those who truly understand local needs, fully respecting their regional autonomy.

A FNAM é a voz dos médicos a nível nacional na luta pela valorização da carreira médica e na defesa e promoção de um SNS forte e capaz de responder à população.

FNAM Advocates for Public Health in Alentejo and Algarve Based on Regional Needs

### **Mariana Vieira da Silva Takes the Helm Again**

The former minister **Mariana Vieira da Silva** is back at the forefront, leading the **PS candidate list for Lisbon** as approved by the FAUL. She is followed by deputies **Pedro Delgado Alves** and **Miguel Cabrita**. Notably, **Hugo Mendes**, the former Secretary of State for Infrastructure, joins the list as a new face.

### **Approval Process**

A source from PS revealed to Lusa that this list was approved during a meeting of the **Political Commission of the Lisbon Urban Area Federation (FAUL)**, which took place last night. The final approval of this and other candidate lists is scheduled for the National Political Commission meeting on Wednesday.

### **Familiar Faces and New Additions**

As in the early elections of last year, **Mariana Vieira da Silva** is the top choice for the **Lisbon electoral circle**. The list includes:
- **Edite Estrela** (4th)
- **Sérgio Sousa Pinto** (5th)
- **Pedro Vaz** (6th)
- **Isabel Moreira** (7th)
- **Ricardo Lima** (8th)
- **Miguel Costa Matos** (9th)
- **Ana Paula Bernardo** (10th)

### **Spotlight on Hugo Mendes**

Hugo Mendes, positioned at **14th**, was previously Secretary of State under **Pedro Nuno Santos** and was involved in the controversial settlement paid to former TAP administrator **Alexandra Reis**.

The list also features:
- **André Rijo** (11th)
- **Davide Amado** (12th), leader of PS/Lisbon
- **Maria Begonha** (13th)
- **Pedro Pinto** (15th), who currently holds the interim presidency of FAUL.

### **Upcoming Approvals**

The **National Political Commission of PS** will meet on Wednesday to finalize the lists of candidates for the early legislative elections. According to PS statutes, the Secretary-General **Pedro Nuno Santos** is responsible for appointing one-third of the total seats, while the remaining two-thirds fall under the jurisdiction of the federative political commissions of each electoral circle.

Ex-ministra de António Costa volta a liderar lista do PS por Lisboa. Hugo Mendes, ex-secretário de Estado das Infrae-estruturas, é novidade.

Mariana Vieira da Silva Leads PS Candidate List for Lisbon with Newcomer Hugo Mendes

### Portugal's Immigration Landscape

**António Leitão Amaro**, the Minister of the Presidency responsible for migration, has stated that **Portugal has become one of the European countries with the highest percentage of immigrants**. Although he refrained from revealing current statistics regarding foreign residents with residence permits, he highlighted that the **increase over the last five years represents a significant transformation**.

### Government Policies and Agreements

The minister praised the coalition government's **migration policies** and emphasized a **historic agreement** formalized on Tuesday with employers, making them co-responsible for the integration of immigrants into Portuguese society. This initiative aims to foster better integration and support for newcomers, ensuring that they are welcomed and can contribute positively to the community.

### Avoiding Controversial Associations

Leitão Amaro also distanced the government’s policies from those of the **Chega party**, which has been associated with stricter immigration measures, indicating a commitment to a more inclusive approach to immigration in Portugal.

O ministro com a tutela das migrações diz que o Governo pôs regras à imigração e celebrou um acordo inédito, que é formalizado nesta terça-feira, com patrões que os co-responsabiliza pela integração.

Portugal's Immigration Surge: A Minister's Insight on New Policies and Integration Efforts

### Change at the Helm of the Portuguese Bar Association

**João Massano** has emerged victorious in the elections for the **bastonário** of the **Ordem dos Advogados** (Bar Association) for the term 2025-2027, securing **54.58%** of the votes. This marks a significant change as he defeated the incumbent **Fernanda Almeida Pinheiro**, who received **45.42%** of the votes.

Massano garnered **9,541 votes**, while Almeida Pinheiro received **7,941 votes**. Additionally, there were **2,260 blank votes** and **186 invalid votes**.

In the first round of voting held on **March 19**, Almeida Pinheiro led with **6,946 votes** (approximately **33%**), while Massano trailed with **5,946 votes** (about **30.95%**). José Costa Pinto and Ricardo Serrano followed in third and fourth place respectively.

Despite the initial division into three candidacies during the first round, the opposition rallied around Massano in the second round, with Costa Pinto formally endorsing him.

### Massano's Vision for the Future

In his campaign statement, Massano emphasized his commitment to **unite the legal profession**, modernize the field, and **restore the prestige** of the Bar Association. He aims to ensure that every lawyer feels **valued, represented, and equipped for future challenges**.

A prominent figure in the Bar Association, Massano has been the president of the **Lisbon Regional Council** since 2019. He graduated from the **University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Law** in **1994** and joined the Bar Association in **1997**. His extensive academic career includes positions at several universities and significant roles within the Bar Council since **2011**.

![João Massano](https://bordalo.observador.pt/v2/q:60/rs:fill:560/plain/https://s3.observador.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18131711/o-misterioso-engenheiro-jardim-16-9-playicon.jpg)


Bastonária Fernanda Almeida Pinheiro perde as eleições na segunda volta por cerca de 1.500 votos. João Massano eleito com 54,58% dos votos.

Historic Shift: João Massano Elected New Head of the Portuguese Bar Association

### João Massano Elected as New Lawyer's Order President  
João Massano has been elected the **bastonário** (president) of the Lawyers' Order for the term 2025/2027, defeating the incumbent, **Fernanda Pinheiro**, with **54.58%** of the votes.  
  
Massano, who has been serving on the regional council of Lisbon since 2011 and has led it for two terms, criticized Pinheiro's leadership style, describing it as divisive. He accused her of creating a rift between **poor lawyers** working in public defense and **wealthy lawyers** from large firms. Pinheiro received approximately **45%** of the votes.  
  
In the second round of elections, out of **17,482 votes**, Massano secured **9,541** votes, while Pinheiro received **7,941**, resulting in a margin of **1,600 votes**. There were also **2,260 blank votes** and **186 null votes**.  
  
### Massano's Commitments and Initiatives  
Married with two children, Massano pledged in his electoral program to avoid public confrontations with the government to restore the **credibility** of the Lawyers' Order. He will relinquish the **€6,000 gross monthly salary** of the position while continuing to work in his law firm, focusing primarily on the **real estate** and **corporate** sectors. Having come from humble beginnings, he once trained as an electrician.  
  
Massano's electoral program includes measures aimed at enhancing the protection provided by the **Lawyers' and Solicitors' Pension Fund** for beneficiaries, especially in case of illness, and promises to establish a **mental health hotline**. He aims to provide new lawyers access to subsidized credit lines for expenses related to setting up their practices.  
  
### Challenges Facing the Legal Profession  
Lawyers share a private pension system with solicitors. A referendum in 2021 showed that most lawyers preferred to choose between remaining in the **Pension Fund** or enrolling in **Social Security**. However, due to their status as **self-employed professionals**, lawyers have never contributed to the general regime and thus lack unemployment benefits and other perks.  
  
Criticized for the high contributions required, which many deem disproportionate to earnings, the Pension Fund primarily focuses on retirement payments, leaving health protection insufficient. The government has tasked a commission with examining the situation and conducting an audit of the Pension Fund.  
  
Recently, the **Court of Auditors** rejected Massano's direct hiring of a lawyer for the regional council of Lisbon, amounting to **€115,000**, following an anonymous complaint.  
  
Fernanda Pinheiro succeeded Menezes Leitão, having been elected in December 2022 with **10,539 votes** (59.26%), ousting Paulo Pimenta, who garnered **7,245 votes** (40.41%). She was the third woman to hold the position of **bastonária**.

João Massano foi eleito esta segunda-feira bastonário dos advogados tendo derrotado a actual detentora do cargo, Fernanda Pinheiro: ganhou com 54,58% dos votos.

João Massano Triumphs in Lawyer's Order Elections with 54.58% of Votes

### Major Changes for Tuk-Tuks in Lisbon

Starting **April 1st**, a significant change will affect the operation of **tuk-tuks** in Lisbon, as **337 streets** will be off-limits for these popular tourist vehicles. This initiative, announced by the **Lisbon City Council**, aims to enhance the **organization of public space** and improve urban mobility.

![Tuk-tuks Restrictions](https://olharesdelisboa.pt/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/A-partir-desta-terca-feira-1-de-abril-337-ruas-vao-estar-interditas-a-tuk-tuks-696x464.jpg)

The decision comes after the city identified problematic areas where tuk-tuks have contributed to congestion and disorganization. The **Municipal Police** will now have **62 additional inspectors** from **EMEL** (Municipal Parking Company) to enforce these new regulations, bringing their total to **280 inspectors**. The focus will be on ensuring compliance with parking and circulation rules, particularly in congested areas like **Baixa Pombalina** and **Belém**.

### President's Statement

**Carlos Moedas**, the president of the Lisbon City Council, expressed optimism about the measures, stating that a **zero tolerance policy** is necessary for areas heavily impacted by uncontrolled tuk-tuk operations. He emphasized the need for better control mechanisms for the number of tuk-tuks allowed in the city.

### Increased Enforcement

In 2024 alone, the Municipal Police recorded a **doubling** of enforcement actions compared to the previous year, with **3,821 incidents** noted. The most common violations include **illegal parking** (60% of total infractions), **not wearing seatbelts**, and **overloading** vehicles.

### Streets Affected

The list of streets affected includes a variety of locations across different neighborhoods, such as:
- **Misericórdia**: Rua da Imprensa Nacional, Rua dos Prazeres
- **Arroios**: Calçada de Sant' Ana, Travessa da Pena
- **Penha de França**: Rua Carlos Ribeiro, Rua Estácio da Veiga

For a full list of affected streets, please refer to the official announcement from the Lisbon City Council.

This extensive measure aims not only to regulate tuk-tuks but also to promote a more organized and accessible urban environment for all citizens and visitors.

A Câmara Municipal de Lisboa implementa novas normas para tuk-tuks, visando uma melhor organização do espaço público.

Lisbon's Tuk-Tuks Face Major Restrictions: 337 Streets Off-Limits Starting April 1st!

## Constitutional Court's Ruling

The **Constitutional Court** has decided to prevent the **PSD** (Social Democratic Party) and **CDS** (People's Party) from running together under the name **'Democratic Alliance'**. This decision, made by a panel of judges led by **Dora Lucas Neto**, appointed by the **PS** (Socialist Party), stems from concerns about the absence of the **PPM** (People's Monarchist Party) in the coalition, which could lead to confusion about the coalition's composition.

## Campaign Direction Response

The news, initially reported by **SIC Notícias** and confirmed by **Observador**, indicates that the campaign leadership of the PSD/CDS coalition is currently reviewing the court's decision and is expected to make an announcement soon.

## Legal Considerations

The ruling emphasizes the significance of the full name **'Democratic Alliance'**. The court noted that since the coalition previously included a third party about a year ago, the current structure could raise legitimate doubts regarding its political representation.

The coalition now faces two options: either appeal the decision to the full Constitutional Court in hopes that the ruling will be overturned or accept the ruling and change the coalition's name. They could theoretically retain the acronym **'AD'**, but would need to modify the full name.

## Background Context

Following the exclusion of the PPM, questions arose regarding the coalition's ability to keep its name. Various alternatives were considered, but ultimately, it was suggested that the coalition might rebrand itself as **'AD – Democratic Alliance – PSD/CDS'**.

![Constitutional Court](https://static.observador.pt/piano/media/marco-2025/099-small.png)

Parecer redigido por Dora Lucas Neto, juíza indicada pelo PS para o Tribunal Constitucional, trava nome da coligação PSD/CDS. Direção de campanha da coligação pode vir a recorrer de decisão.

Hospitals in Portugal Expand Bed Capacity Amid Rising Emergency Pressures

Summary:

Increased Pressure on Emergency Services

Response to Rising Needs

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Other Latest News

FNAM Advocates for Public Health in Alentejo and Algarve Based on Regional Needs

Mariana Vieira da Silva Leads PS Candidate List for Lisbon with Newcomer Hugo Mendes

Portugal's Immigration Surge: A Minister's Insight on New Policies and Integration Efforts

Historic Shift: João Massano Elected New Head of the Portuguese Bar Association

João Massano Triumphs in Lawyer's Order Elections with 54.58% of Votes

Lisbon's Tuk-Tuks Face Major Restrictions: 337 Streets Off-Limits Starting April 1st!

Constitutional Court Blocks PSD/CDS Coalition from Using 'Democratic Alliance' Name

Other Latest News

FNAM Advocates for Public Health in Alentejo and Algarve Based on Regional Needs

Mariana Vieira da Silva Leads PS Candidate List for Lisbon with Newcomer Hugo Mendes

Portugal's Immigration Surge: A Minister's Insight on New Policies and Integration Efforts

Historic Shift: João Massano Elected New Head of the Portuguese Bar Association

João Massano Triumphs in Lawyer's Order Elections with 54.58% of Votes

Lisbon's Tuk-Tuks Face Major Restrictions: 337 Streets Off-Limits Starting April 1st!

Constitutional Court Blocks PSD/CDS Coalition from Using 'Democratic Alliance' Name