2015 in Portugal

none 2015 The following lists events in the year 2015 in Portugal. Incumbents President: Aníbal Cavaco Silva Prime Minister: Pedro Passos Coelho (Social Democratic) (until 26 November); António Costa (Socialist) (from 26 November) Events January to March thumb|upright=0.9|12 January: Alberto João Jardim (pictured in 2013) resigns as President of the Regional Government of Madeira, a post he has held continuously since March 1978.https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/alberto_joao_jardim_apresentou_demissao_do_cargo_de_presidente_do_governo_da_madeira Alberto João Jardim apresentou demissão do cargo de presidente do Governo da Madeira pt Jornal de Negocios Lusa News Agency 12 January 2015 20 August 2021 12 January – Alberto João Jardim steps down as the President of the Regional Government of Madeira after holding the position for 37 years, the longest spell of any incumbent politician in Portugal.https://www.elmundo.es/internacional/2015/01/12/54b3d74dca47416e3b8b4584.html Dimite el presidente de Madeira tras 37 años en el poder Spanish El Mundo Virginia López 12 January 2015 18 August 2021 He is replaced by Miguel Albuquerque, who was elected as Jardim's successor as the leader of the Madeiran Social Democratic Party in December 2014, and who had earlier committed to holding early elections to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira upon taking up the post.https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/madeira/miguel-albuquerque-nao-governa-sem-eleicoes-antecipadas Miguel Albuquerque não governa sem eleições antecipadas Portuguese TVI24 7 January 2015 18 August 2021 29 January – The government announces that the descendents of Sephardic Jews who were expelled, killed, or suffered forced conversion to Christianity at the end of the 15th century will be able to apply for Portuguese citizenship.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31051223 Portugal to naturalise descendants of Jews expelled centuries ago BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 29 January 2015 18 August 2021 27 February – Data from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística reveals that the national economy grew by 0.9% in 2014, marking the country's first full-year of economic expansion since 2010. The forecast shows further expected growth of 1.5% for 2015.https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2015/0227/683277-portugal-economy/ Portugal's economy returns to growth in 2014 RTÉ 27 February 2015 18 August 2021 28 February – An opinion poll by company Eurosondagem places the governing Portugal à Frente coalition of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) within three percentage points of the opposition Socialist Party ahead of the scheduled autumn general election. The poll forecasts each to win approximately 100 seats in the Assembly.https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-politics/portugal-pm-upbeat-on-re-election-chances-poll-shows-close-race-idUKKBN0LW0O520150228 Portugal PM upbeat on re-election chances, poll shows close race Reuters Andrei Khalip Rosalind Russell 28 February 2015 18 August 2021 18 March – The head of the tax revenue service Antonio Brigas Afonso resigns following claims his office attempted to hide the tax records of top officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, from investigators.https://www.reuters.com/article/portugal-taxes-scandal/portugal-tax-chief-resigns-over-alleged-vip-taxpayers-idUSL6N0WK2JX20150318 Portugal tax chief resigns over alleged VIP taxpayers Reuters Andrei Khalip Tom Heneghan 18 March 2015 19 August 2021 24 March – Palaeontologists announce that the fossils of a 220-million year old carnivorous amphibian found in the Algarve constitute a new species, named Metoposaurus algarvensis. The species is thought to have been one of the top predators in the late Triassic.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32016625?SThisFB 'Monster salamanders' found in fossilised mass grave BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation Jonathan Webb 24 March 2015 19 August 2021 29 March – Madeiran regional election: The PSD led by Miguel Albuquerque retains its majority in the Madeiran Assembly with 44.4% of the vote, taking 24 of the 47 available seats. The CDS–PP finishes as the second largest party with seven seats, one more than the left-wing Mudança coalition of the Socialist Party, the Portuguese Workers' Party, People Animals Nature, and The Earth Party Movement, which finishes in third with six seats.Ruel Teresa 2015 Madeira Regional Elections 2015: A Polity Tyrannized by Majorities or the End of an Era? Regional and Federal Studies 25 3 313–320 10.1080/13597566.2015.1053876 154438492 April to June thumb|31 May: SATUOeiras, the first unmanned urban rail service in Portugal, closes after eleven years (vehicle pictured in 2008) 17 May – In association football, S.L. Benfica win the 2014–15 Primeira Liga following a 0–0 draw against Vitória Guimarães, securing an unassailable points lead ahead of title rivals F.C. Porto with one game of the season left to play. It is the first time the club has won back-to-back league championships in more than three decades.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32773179 Vitoria Guimaraes 0-0 Benfica BBC Sport British Broadcasting Corporation 17 May 2015 20 August 2021 24 May – In motor racing, Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala wins the 2015 Rally de Portugal.https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2015/05/25/wrc-latvala-claims-first-win-of-2015-at-rally-portugal/ WRC: Latvala claims first win of 2015 at Rally Portugal NBC Sports Luke Smith 25 May 2015 20 August 2021 31 May – The SATUOeiras unmanned light rail service in the city of Oeiras, the first of its kind in the country, is terminated after eleven years of operation due to rising debts of €40 million and uncertainties over its long-term future.http://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/satu-faz-a-ultima-viagem-no-domingo-4595888.html SATU faz a última viagem no domingo Portuguese Diário de Notícias Lusa News Agency 29 May 2015 24 August 2021 3 December 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241203114049/https://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/satu-faz-a-ultima-viagem-no-domingo-4595888.html/ dead 11 June – The government sells its controlling stake in the national flag carrier TAP Air Portugal to a consortium headed by Brazilian-American businessman David Neeleman for €10 million. The sale is met with a mixed response: Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho praises the end a process attempted by governments for almost two decades, while the Socialist Party announces its intention to re-nationalise the airline upon victory in autumn's general election.https://www.ft.com/content/95f89f5e-1054-11e5-ad5a-00144feabdc0 Portugal sells controlling stake in TAP airline Financial Times Peter Wise 11 June 2015 24 August 2021 subscription 12–28 June – Portugal contests the inaugural European Games in Baku with a delegation of 100 athletes competing in 14 sports.http://comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/lista-final-de-atletas-portugueses-para-baku-2015/ Lista final de atletas para Baku 2015 Portuguese Comité Olímpico de Portugal 4 June 2015 25 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20150622073041/http://comiteolimpicoportugal.pt/lista-final-de-atletas-portugueses-para-baku-2015/ 22 June 2015 dead Portuguese athletes win a total of 10 medals, with the nation's three gold medals achieved by Telma Monteiro in judo, Rui Bragança in taekwando, and Marcos Freitas, Tiago Apolónia and João Geraldo in the men's table tennis competition.https://ionline.sapo.pt/artigo/399517/jogos-europeus-bronze-para-portugal-no-futebol-de-praia?seccao=Desporto_i Bronze para Portugal no futebol de praia Portuguese Jornal i Lusa News Agency 28 June 2015 25 August 2021 July to September 23 July – MPs approve plans to strengthen anti-abortion laws, which include the introduction of fees and mandatory counselling sessions for those wishing to end pregnancies early.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/23/portugal-tightens-abortion-laws-women-pay-end-pregnancies Portugal tightens abortion laws, forcing women to pay to end pregnancies The Guardian Agence-France Presse 23 July 2015 29 August 2021 9 August – In cycling, Spain's Gustavo Veloso wins the 2015 Volta a Portugal in a time of 40 hours and 39 seconds. It is Veloso's second consecutive win in the event.https://www.wort.lu/pt/desporto/gustavo-veloso-celebra-segunda-vit-ria-seguida-na-volta-a-portugal-55c780a90c88b46a8ce5e1c1 Gustavo Veloso celebra segunda vitória seguida na Volta a Portugal pt Contacto 9 August 2015 1 October 2021 3 September – Following months of below-average rainfall, a report by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere states that the country is suffering its second worst drought in 70 years, with almost three-quarters of the country experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions.https://apnews.com/article/0975fdf2e5b54b379e65012b7c0c8fea Portugal's hot and dry August worsens drought conditions Associated Press News 3 September 2015 29 August 2021 October to December 4 October – General election: The Portugal à Frente coalition of the PSD and CDS–PP parties under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho finishes as the largest group in the Assembly with 107 seats and 36.8% of the vote, but falls short of securing an absolute majority. The Socialist Party wins 86 seats, a gain of 12 from the last election, while the Left Bloc doubles its vote share from 2011 to end as the Assembly's third-largest party with 19 seats. Turnout falls to 56%, the lowest recorded in a legislative election since the Carnation Revolution.De Giorgi Elisabetta Santana-Pereira José The 2015 Portuguese Legislative Election: Widening the Coalitional Space and Bringing the Extreme Left in South European Society and Politics 21 4 451–468 2016 10.1080/13608746.2016.1181862 10451/23730 156179368 free Socialist Party leader António Costa declares he will not resign from his post despite his party's results falling below pre-election expectations.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/04/portugal-election-ruling-centre-right-coalition-headed-for-victory Portugal election: centre-right coalition retains power but could lose majority The Guardian Reuters 5 October 2015 31 August 2021 22 October – President Aníbal Cavaco Silva invites Pedro Passos Coelho to continue on as Prime Minister of a minority government, citing a 40–year precedent that the leader of the Assembly's largest party is asked to take office.https://www.ft.com/content/72af7fe8-78f7-11e5-933d-efcdc3c11c89 Passos Coelho asked to form minority government in Portugal Financial Times Peter Wise 22 October 2015 30 September 2021 subscription António Costa subsequently announces that Passos Coelho's re-appointment will be met with a parliamentary vote of no confidence in his administration.https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-government/portugal-socialists-vow-to-topple-government-with-no-confidence-vote-idUKKCN0SH0XZ20151023 Portugal Socialists vow to topple government with no-confidence vote Reuters Axel Bugge Sergio Goncalves 23 October 2015 4 October 2021 2 November – Heavy rainfall of up 15 cm in in 24 hours causes flash floods in Albufeira and the wider Algarve region, killing one person.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/11/02/heavy-rain-triggers-flash-flooding-up-to-5-feet-high-in-southern-portugal-video/ Heavy rain triggers flash flooding up to 5 feet high in southern Portugal (Video) The Washington Post Angela Fritz 2 November 2015 1 October 2021 10 November – MPs approve a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Passos Coelho following an agreement between members of the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, and the Left Bloc. At just 11 days Passos Coelho's administration becomes the shortest-lived government in Portuguese history.https://www.dw.com/en/in-portugal-left-wing-opposition-topples-government-in-no-confidence-vote/a-18841747 In Portugal, left-wing opposition topples government in no-confidence vote Deutsche Welle 10 November 2015 1 October 2021 24 November – António Costa is appointed as the new prime minister by President Cavaco Silva as head of a four-party coalition between the Socialist Party, the Left Bloc, the Communist Party, and the Green Party. Costa is formally sworn into office two days later,https://expresso.pt/politica/2015-11-26-As-16h02.-Antonio-Costa-tomou-posse-como-primeiro-ministro Às 16h02... António Costa tomou posse como primeiro-ministro pt Expresso Lusa News Agency 26 November 2015 4 October 2021 and agrees to abide by a series of six conditions set out by the President, which include following eurozone budget regulations and maintaining Portugal's international responsibilities as a member of NATO.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34916113 Portugal Socialist Costa named PM in left-wing coalition BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 24 November 2015 4 October 2021 Deaths 150px|thumb|Maria Barroso in 2013 15 February – Luísa Dacosta, writer (born 1927).https://www.publico.pt/2015/02/16/culturaipsilon/noticia/luisa-dacosta-19272015nunca-fiz-uma-coisa-que-eu-nao-quisesse-1686359 Luísa Dacosta (1927-2015): "Nunca fiz uma coisa que eu não quisesse" Portuguese Público Rita Pimenta 16 February 2015 5 October 2021 23 March – Herberto Hélder, poet (born 1930).https://www.publico.pt/2015/03/24/culturaipsilon/noticia/morreu-herberto-helder-a-voz-mais-fulgurante-da-poesia-portuguesa-1690151 Morreu Herberto Helder, a voz mais fulgurante da poesia portuguesa Portuguese Público Luís Miguel Queirós 24 March 2015 5 October 2021 26 March – Luís Miguel Rocha, author (born 1976).https://www.publico.pt/2015/03/26/culturaipsilon/noticia/escritor-luis-miguel-rocha-morre-aos-39-anos-1690425 Escritor Luís Miguel Rocha morre aos 39 anos Portuguese Público 26 March 2015 7 October 2021 2 April – Manoel de Oliveira, film director and screenwriter (born 1908).https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/arts/manoel-de-oliveira-pensive-filmmaker-who-made-up-for-lost-time-is-dead.html Manoel de Oliveira, Pensive Filmmaker Who Made Up for Lost Time, Dies at 106 The New York Times Dennis Lim 2 April 2015 6 October 2021 7 July – Maria Barroso, actress and First Lady of Portugal (1986–1996) (born 1925).https://www.dn.pt/pais/morreu-maria-barroso-a-promessa-radiosa-e-a-figura-mitica-que-o-amor-fez-mulher-de-4648112.html Maria Barroso. A "promessa radiosa" e a "figura mítica" que o amor fez "mulher de" pt Diário de Notícas Fernanda Câncio 7 July 2020 8 February 2021 5 August – Ana Hatherly, writer and artist (born 1929).https://www.cmjornal.pt/mais-cm/obituario/detalhe/morreu_a_escritora_e_artista_visual_ana_hatherly_aos_86_anos Ana Hatherly (1929-2015) pt Correio da Manhã Lusa News Agency 5 August 2015 8 February 2021 1 November – José Fonseca e Costa, film director (born 1933).https://www.publico.pt/2015/11/01/culturaipsilon/noticia/morreu-o-cineasta-jose-fonseca-e-costa-1713014 Morreu José Fonseca e Costa, o cineasta contador de histórias pt Público Vítor Belanciano Isabel Coutinho Luís Miguel Oliveira 1 November 2015 4 April 2022 7 November – Pancho Guedes, architect (born 1925).https://www.publico.pt/2015/11/07/culturaipsilon/noticia/morreu-pancho-guedes-arquitecto-moderno-excentrico-anarca-e-livre-1713680 Morreu Pancho Guedes, arquitecto moderno, excêntrico, desconcertante e livre pt Público Lucinda Canelas 7 November 2015 4 April 2022 See also List of Portuguese films of 2015 References 2015 Portugal Category:Years of the 21st century in Portugal Category:2010s in Portugal Portugal