Portuguese emigrants affected by last summer’s fires will be considered for compensation for losses in agricultural land, equipment or other buildings, the Government assured in a response to the PS parliamentary group.
“All citizens”including emigrants, “are considered for the purposes of compensation for losses in agricultural land, equipment or other constructions”can be read in the response, dated December 10th, from the office of the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro de Almeida, and to which Lusa had access this Monday, December 15th.
However, it is pointed out that, “in accordance with Decree-Law no. 98-A/2025”, support for own and permanent housing for Portuguese residents abroad is not yet eligible, as they are “second homes”.
“However, this situation will be reviewed and changed through the promulgation by the President of the Republic and the subsequent publication in the Official Gazette of the law arising from Bill no. 171/XVII/1.4, which aims, among other aspects, to extend support for second homes”he added.
The PS parliamentary group, in questions sent on October 31, criticized “there is no exact information on the assets of emigrants affected by the violent fires, nor on the extent of the personal losses”.
The socialists had also criticized the minister’s statements, for having discriminated “those residing abroad, stating that, if their assets had been reduced, that ‘it was their problem’, that they ‘had insurance'”contextualized the PS.
The deadline for submitting support applications runs until April 28, 2026, with the Government indicating in its response to the PS that “the total eligible amounts of losses and affected homes, for which owners submitted applications, will only be known after that date”.