English

With or without a pandemic, having a strong National Health Service is essential, but the current health emergency has stressed the importance of having a strong and sustainable public health service.

The health crisis emerging from the Covid-19 outbreak has and will have a strong impact in several realms of society, from the economy, to the labour market and social protection, among others. In Portugal, the first case of infection was detected on March 2nd and since March 19th the country has been under a State of Emergency.

The response to the pandemic crisis requires both health measures as well as economic and social protection measures.

Catarina Martins, in a press conference held on January 9, clarified that the negotiation “took place in difficult conditions”, adding that there are “still open questions” but several others are “guaranteed” and written on paper.

The 16-year-old Swedish activist arrived in Lisbon on December 3, 2019, where she stayed for a few days before leaving for the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25). Catarina Martins, the national coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda, went to Madrid, to participate in several demonstrations of the counter-summit for climate change.

Speech by Catarina Martins at the 6th Party Congress of the Party of the European Left, December, 2019

At present times, unimaginable scenarios of human rights violations and misuse of power are developing in several places around the world. As such, although other scenarios of political and social tensions may be developed, let us focus on the present circumstances taking place in Catalonia.