Iberian Nations

User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Are the Portuguese More Fiscally Responsible than the Gr

Post by Endovelico »

monster_gardener wrote:Wondering if Portugal really has that much in common character wise with the Greeks who have the reputation of being irresponsible......
I suspect that by the end of the year we will start realizing that the present Greek government is very responsible indeed, and that former Greek governments, not the Greeks themselves, have been irresponsible. For the first time (ever?) Greece has a government which represents the Greek people, not the oligarchy. I thus expect corruption to decrease dramatically and economic efficiency to increase.
Simple Minded

Re: Are the Portuguese More Fiscally Responsible than the Gr

Post by Simple Minded »

Endovelico wrote:
monster_gardener wrote:Wondering if Portugal really has that much in common character wise with the Greeks who have the reputation of being irresponsible......
I suspect that by the end of the year we will start realizing that the present Greek government is very responsible indeed, and that former Greek governments, not the Greeks themselves, have been irresponsible. For the first time (ever?) Greece has a government which represents the Greek people, not the oligarchy. I thus expect corruption to decrease dramatically and economic efficiency to increase.
It will be interesting. It takes two to tango.
noddy
Posts: 11318
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by noddy »

sounds overly optimistic to me, in my country you get to vote for the sugar on top part of government, the rest of the entitled corrupt beast doesnt change no matter what.
ultracrepidarian
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

cwl6EfnUfu8
noddy
Posts: 11318
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by noddy »

extremely tasty stuff, as is a good chorizo - which is my favourite form of bacon, ready to go.
ultracrepidarian
Simple Minded

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Simple Minded »

noddy wrote:extremely tasty stuff, as is a good chorizo - which is my favourite form of bacon, ready to go.
And this comes from which part of the seal exactly?
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

.


Spain to welcome back descendants of Jews expelled in 1492


.

Spain is on the brink of granting citizenship to the descendants of Jewish families expelled from the country in 1492, in a gesture of reconciliation that has stirred debate in Jewish communities worldwide.

Legislators in Madrid’s parliament approved the new law in a session late on Wednesday, ahead of a second vote in the Spanish Senate, the upper chamber.

..

The Spanish government’s official estimate is that about 90,000 people will apply for a passport, but officials admit there is no precise way of knowing how many descendants fulfil the criteria. Madrid believes that most applicants will remain in their current country of residence and use their new Spanish documentation as a second passport, and to simplify travel within Europe.

..

The expulsion by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella came in the wake of the reconquest of Spain from Moorish rule, and their drive to establish a purely Roman Catholic kingdom.

Passport applicants do not have to be Jews, but must be related to Jews originally from Spain. The term Sephardic derives from the Hebrew word for Spain, but is often used to describe all Oriental Jews, regardless of whether they trace their lineage back to Spain.

Gabriel Elorriaga, a senior lawmaker for the ruling Popular party, said the number of potential applicants could be in the hundreds of thousands. But he stressed they would also have to show that they still maintained a special connection with the country. The law also requires both a basic language test and a test of basic knowledge about Spain.

“This is a way to close the circle of reconciliation between Spain and the Jewish community,” said Mr Elorriaga. “The idea is very clear: we want to reach out to those who were expelled from Spain and who have kept some form of connection with the country through all these years.”

Under the draft law, applicants will have to go through a two-step process.

First, they will have to obtain a certificate from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, or an official Jewish body in their home country, confirming their status as Sephardic Jews from Spain. If they cannot prove direct family descent, the authorities will accept proof that they speak Ladino (the ancient Spanish Jewish dialect), or that they have a typical Spanish-Sephardic name, or observe the community’s religious rites.

Applicants will then have to show their “special connection” to Spain — for example, their use of Ladino or proof that they have studied Spanish culture and history.

There are no plans to extend the offer of citizenship to Spain’s former Muslim population, even though hundreds of thousands were also driven from the country as part of the Catholic reconquest. Granada, the last bastion of the Moors in Spain, fell in 1492 — the year that saw the royal order to expel the Jews.

Mr Elorriaga said the two cases were not comparable, both because the Jewish community in Spain had a far longer tradition, and because the exiled Sephardic community maintained a special cultural and linguistic connection with their former homeland.

.

Spanish Muslims chased away can protest and bring their case to Brussels .. discrimination, against human rights

Either nobody gets it, or Muslim get it too

Am sure will come to that

.
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Endovelico »

The situation in Portugal is somewhat different as the overwhelming majority of Jews who lived in Portugal stayed in the country, albeit as newly converted Christians. The King, who had wanted to keep them, had suggested to them to "convert" while keeping at home whatever traditions they felt like keeping. Many did exactly so. Within two hundred years they were all "true" Christians, and the problem solved itself. Those who actually fled the country, rather than convert, and who went mostly to the Netherlands, Morocco and South America by way of Curaçao, may have been just a few thousand. Their descendants may now come back, if they so desire, but we do not expect many applications. As to Moors their number may have been even smaller, as they left the country in the late 13th century - many going to Granada - when Algarve was fully conquered.
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

Endovelico wrote:The situation in Portugal is somewhat different as the overwhelming majority of Jews who lived in Portugal stayed in the country, albeit as newly converted Christians. The King, who had wanted to keep them, had suggested to them to "convert" while keeping at home whatever traditions they felt like keeping. Many did exactly so. Within two hundred years they were all "true" Christians, and the problem solved itself. Those who actually fled the country, rather than convert, and who went mostly to the Netherlands, Morocco and South America by way of Curaçao, may have been just a few thousand. Their descendants may now come back, if they so desire, but we do not expect many applications. As to Moors their number may have been even smaller, as they left the country in the late 13th century - many going to Granada - when Algarve was fully conquered.

My understanding is, pretty much all Moors stayed and converted to Christianity

Each time I travel to Spain (and Portugal), many Spaniards I meet tell me they Moors, now they good Catholics :)

.
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Endovelico »

Heracleum Persicum wrote:
Endovelico wrote:The situation in Portugal is somewhat different as the overwhelming majority of Jews who lived in Portugal stayed in the country, albeit as newly converted Christians. The King, who had wanted to keep them, had suggested to them to "convert" while keeping at home whatever traditions they felt like keeping. Many did exactly so. Within two hundred years they were all "true" Christians, and the problem solved itself. Those who actually fled the country, rather than convert, and who went mostly to the Netherlands, Morocco and South America by way of Curaçao, may have been just a few thousand. Their descendants may now come back, if they so desire, but we do not expect many applications. As to Moors their number may have been even smaller, as they left the country in the late 13th century - many going to Granada - when Algarve was fully conquered.

My understanding is, pretty much all Moors stayed and converted to Christianity

Each time I travel to Spain (and Portugal), many Spaniards I meet tell me they Moors, now they good Catholics :)

.
Since we all are pretty lousy Catholics, I suppose Jews and Moors didn't mind becoming Catholic, as rules were mostly understood to be broken... :D
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

Endovelico wrote:
Heracleum Persicum wrote:
Endovelico wrote:The situation in Portugal is somewhat different as the overwhelming majority of Jews who lived in Portugal stayed in the country, albeit as newly converted Christians. The King, who had wanted to keep them, had suggested to them to "convert" while keeping at home whatever traditions they felt like keeping. Many did exactly so. Within two hundred years they were all "true" Christians, and the problem solved itself. Those who actually fled the country, rather than convert, and who went mostly to the Netherlands, Morocco and South America by way of Curaçao, may have been just a few thousand. Their descendants may now come back, if they so desire, but we do not expect many applications. As to Moors their number may have been even smaller, as they left the country in the late 13th century - many going to Granada - when Algarve was fully conquered.

My understanding is, pretty much all Moors stayed and converted to Christianity

Each time I travel to Spain (and Portugal), many Spaniards I meet tell me they Moors, now they good Catholics :)

.
Since we all are pretty lousy Catholics, I suppose Jews and Moors didn't mind becoming Catholic, as rules were mostly understood to be broken... :D

.

For an Muslim to become Christian, Moor become Catholic, not only in name but a real full fledge catholic, is not big deal .. Islam is a "ism", a philosophy, like saying one is "socialist" .. many "socialist" have changed to devote "capitalist" or vice versa, all valid changes

For Spanish Jews, belonging "really" to Hebrew tribe, changing from Judaism to Christianity would have meant leaving the "Hebrew Tribe", like Moors would suddenly not be Moors anymore but Anglo Saxon :lol: .. a Moor or an Arab or a Palestinian or an Iranian can be Zoroastrian, Muslim, Christian, Jew .. but a "Hebrew tribe" can not be Zoroastrian or Muslim or Catholic, at least that is how the Hebrew Tribe Jews feel, and that is why they stay Jews for generations.

.
noddy
Posts: 11318
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by noddy »

who would the bitter ones blame if jews didnt exist ?
ultracrepidarian
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Endovelico »

noddy wrote:who would the bitter ones blame if jews didnt exist ?
Dagos?... :D
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Endovelico »

Educational Map of Europe for the use of Gringos...

Image
(Click to open)

:lol: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
Nonc Hilaire
Posts: 6168
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:28 am

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Nonc Hilaire »

Spainiards protest anti-demonstration law with a hologram demonstration! Simply brilliant!

http://revolution-news.com/first-hologr ... s-gag-law/
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”

Teresa of Ávila
User avatar
Nonc Hilaire
Posts: 6168
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:28 am

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Nonc Hilaire »

0X7CIl19gsY
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”

Teresa of Ávila
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Endovelico »

The End of Freedom of Speech in Spain
Posted on July 13, 2015 by Martin Armstrong
http://www.armstrongeconomics.com/archives/34287

Image

Spain has shown that it is fully on board with the Brussels authoritarian direction of ending democracy. Those in power have simply convinced themselves that the people do not understand what is good for them so they must impose their will upon the people but raw force. How does this differ in any what from the justification of imposing communism? This is the death of all freedom and it is upon our doorstep.

Here are the new laws in Spain:

1. If you photograph security personnel and then share these images on social media: up to €30.000 fine (particularly if photo exposes violence used against a member of the public). This fine could increase depending on the number of Instagram or social media followers you have.

2. Tweet or retweet information or the “location of an organized protest” can now be interpreted as an act of terrorism as it incites others to “commit a crime” (now that “demonstrating” in many ways has become a crime). Sound “1984”-ish? Read about Orwell and his time in Spain.

3. Snowden-like whistle blowing is now defined as an act of terrorism. If you write for a local publication, be careful what you print, whom you speak to, and whether the government is listening.

4. Visiting or consulting terrorist websites – even for investigative purposes – can be interpreted as an act of terrorism. Make sure you use “Tor” browser, reject cookies, and don’t allow pop-ups. Not to mention, don’t post it on your Facebook timeline!

5. Be careful with the royal jokes! Any satirical comment against the royal family is a new crime “against the Crown”. For example, “What did Leticia and the Bishop have to say after they ––“ (SORRY CENSORED).

6. No more hassling elected members of the government or local authorities – even if they say one thing in order to be elected, but then go and do the exact opposite. Confronting them about this hypocritical behavior. Even if you see them in the street chatting to a street cleaner, dining at their favorite expensive restaurant, or having their shoes shined by that physics graduate who cannot find a decent job in the country, hassling them about their behavior is now a criminal offence.

7. Has your local river been so polluted by that plastic factory along the edge that all life has extinguished? Well, tough! Greenpeace or similar protests are now finable from €601–€30.000.

8. Protests in a spontaneous way outside Parliament are now illegal. For example if Parliament passes a hugely unpopular bill, or are debating something extremely important to you or your community, it is now finable from €601 – €30.000. Tip: Use Google Maps to protest just around the corner – but don’t tweet the location!

9. Obstructing an officer in the course of their business, “resisting arrest”, refusing to leave a demonstration when told, or getting in the way of a swinging baton are all now finable offences from €601 – €30.000.

10. Showing lack of respect to officers of the law is an immediate fine of €100 – €600. Answering back, asking a disrespectful question, making a funny face, showing your bottom to an officer of the law, or telling him/her that their breath reminds you of your dog’s underparts is now, sadly, not advisable.

11. Occupying, squatting, or refusing to leave an office, business, bank or other place until your complaint has been heard as a protest is now a €100 – €600 fine (no more flash mobs).

12. Digital protests: Writing something that could technically “disturb the peace” is a now a crime. Bloggers beware, for no one has yet defined whose peace you could be disturbing.
Come back Franco, you are forgiven...

Hopefully Podemos will win the elections in Spain...

Image
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Portuguese Elections

Post by Endovelico »

Image

I couldn't help showing you this fake political poster supposedly from the party in power in Portugal:

In 4 years we have produced more millionaires then the others did in 40 years!
With less Health care, less Education, less Social Security, less Justice!

With + taxes + bankruptcies + privatizations + repossessions
+ public debt + unemployment + poverty + soup kitchens + lies...

Now Portugal f_cks more. Portugal ahead of Burkina Faso!...


Please feel free to adapt and use in any elections taking place in your country...
User avatar
Endovelico
Posts: 3038
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:00 pm

Conquest

Post by Endovelico »

Image

Six hundred years ago, today, a Portuguese army landed in Ceuta and conquered it, thus starting Europe's conquest of much of the world. I don't know whether we should rejoice at that, but I thought it was worth remembering...
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Conquest

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

Endovelico wrote:Image

Six hundred years ago, today, a Portuguese army landed in Ceuta and conquered it, thus starting Europe's conquest of much of the world. I don't know whether we should rejoice at that, but I thought it was worth remembering...

Was in Porto .. authentic

Like Portugal more than Spain


.
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

.
35f06928-622a-465a-9c4c-7153f5cbe32b.jpg
35f06928-622a-465a-9c4c-7153f5cbe32b.jpg (66.08 KiB) Viewed 2339 times

Catalan pro-independence supporters take part in a march dubbed "Way of Freedom for the Republic of Catalonia" on the Catalunya's National Day in Barcelona, Spain,
September 11, 2015


Looks to me, done deal.

If Catalonia separates, Basque will follow quick

Interesting to see how Spain will react.

.
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Typhoon »

Economist | Catalans amongst the pigeons
CATALONIA‘S election proved a personal triumph for regional president Artur Mas, whose separatist Together for Yes platform was a clear winner though it fell short of an absolute majority in Barcelona‘s parliament. Barring last minute warfare amongst the component parts of a platform that included his centre-right Catalan Democratic Convergence party, the left-wing Catalan Republican Left and a varied array of independent separatists, Mr Mas will continue to head the regional government of this wealthy corner of north-east Spain.
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Typhoon »

Typhoon wrote:Economist | Catalans amongst the pigeons
CATALONIA‘S election proved a personal triumph for regional president Artur Mas, whose separatist Together for Yes platform was a clear winner though it fell short of an absolute majority in Barcelona‘s parliament. Barring last minute warfare amongst the component parts of a platform that included his centre-right Catalan Democratic Convergence party, the left-wing Catalan Republican Left and a varied array of independent separatists, Mr Mas will continue to head the regional government of this wealthy corner of north-east Spain.
Not so fast ...
Dear The Economist:

I am surprised to read in this article some important inaccuracies regarding sunday’s regional elections in Catalonia. Far from a personal triumph for regional president Artur Mas is the contrary: a tremendous blow to its political ambitions and the so called “roadmap” for Catalonian independence.

“Mr Mas will continue to head the regional government of this wealthy corner of the north-east Spain” Again on the contrary it is highly improbable that Mr Mas will be elected regional president by the Catalonian Parliament. He does not count with enough votes to be elected by his own platform “Together for Yes” (62 seats) and the only possible ally: Popular Unity Candidacy (10 seats) has clearly declared in various occasions through the campaign, election night and on monday that they will not vote in favour of Mr Mas.

Furthermore the same Popular Unity Candidacy leaders against Mr Mas presidency, declared yesterday that they do not have a sufficient majority in votes (less than 50%) to declare unilateral independence of Catalonia. Because of all this sunday’s results are a tremendous blow to Mr Mas political ambitions and the independence “roadmap”.

I believe some fact checking and additional reporting is necessary to correct the first paragraph of this article.
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
User avatar
Heracleum Persicum
Posts: 11567
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:38 pm

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

.


Portuguese Miracle
Young Entrepreneurs Lead Country Out of Crisis


.

Portugal's economic resurgence is a remarkable success story. Only four years ago, the country was forced to turn to the EU for a bailout. Today, a new generation of entrepreneurs and start-ups have fueled a turnaround and fostered a new national spirit.

The panoramic terrace with views of the buildings in Lisbon's Old Town glows in the evening sun. Couples snuggle on benches, a street musician plays Brazilian melodies on saxophone, the Tagus River flows down beneath and a giant Jesus statue can be seen on the other bank. Tourists and locals alike raise their mobile phones into the air as they try to snap the prettiest views. Then they stroll over to the lime-green Piaggio Ape owned by Mónica Santos and João Reis.


The two Portuguese set up Mariá Limão, a small food truck that sells homemade lemonade and crêpes here in mid-July. Originally, Mónica Santos, 33, had previously been employed as a social worker, but she lost her job during the debt crisis. The same happened to her friend Reis, 38, who studied math and marketing at college. Neither wanted to leave the country the way so many others from their generation did. And they didn't want to give up, sit back and take things easy and move back in with their parents.
When they learned that Lisbon's city government was permitting people to set up businesses using Asian-style Tuk-Tuks, they borrowed €30,000 ($33,873) from their families and the bank and purchased a Piaggio Ape and the kitchen equipment they needed to run their business. Santos had always enjoyed cooking, and now she finds herself spending 10 hours a day on her feet, taking turns with Reis at the crêpe griddle and the juicer. They prepare the ingredients the evening before.

Santos and Reis have already recouped half of their investment. With things going so well, Reis is also considering setting up a second food truck on the beach in his hometown in the Algarve region, where he used to wait on tourists as a boy in his parents' own restaurant. He says he'd like to employ jobless friends there.

After all, they're not the only ones to have lost jobs. When the country had to turn to the European Union for a bailout in 2011, Portugal was forced to implement harsh austerity measures. Some 485,000 Portuguese, particularly young university graduates, left the country during the crisis to try and find opportunities abroad. They went to Germany, Brazil and even to the former African colony of Angola.

Entrepreneurial Energy and a New Spirit

Around 60 percent quickly returned. Others never left the country, with many of them trying to find a way to eke out a living after finding themselves unemployed. They took risks and established their own businesses, reinventing traditional products, opening hotels with new twists and unusual restaurants. They developed software and became fashion designers. In doing so, they also transformed Lisbon into one of Europe's most popular travel destinations while at the same time creating an unexpected economic upswing and helping to bring an end to the country's blues.

The transformation is particularly apparent in Lisbon, but also in many other places. You see it in the Embaixada, an 18th century palace that has been converted into a chic shopping center in Lisbon's historic quarter. It's a collective concept store and serves as a sort of embassy for the best products made in Portugal.

"Just sitting around at home was no answer," says Raquel Guedes, 29. "If you can't find something in your own field, then you have to get something else going." Guedes started out as a nursery school teacher and had gotten by over the years covering for other women on maternity leave. But eventually she got tired of it and instead set off on her own designing children's clothing. Now she rents her own small shop inside Embaixada.

The general mood in Lisbon ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections in Portugal is a cheerful one. The unemployment rate has fallen from 17 percent in 2012 to 12 percent. The government's tax revenues are strong and almost twice as much has been raised through privatization than agreed to with the country's lenders. Last year, Portugal was able to end its aid program and successfully raise its own money on the markets. Since then, the economy has grown steadily, with 1.6 percent growth this year -- a figure that is higher than the euro-zone average. It's even possible the country will achieve its deficit goal of 3 percent of gross domestic product.

It's useful data for the current coalition government -- comprised of the conservative Social Democrats and the center-right, business-friendly People's Party -- because its leaders can point out that, after four difficult years, it has successfully led Portugal out of the crisis. Of course, it wasn't easy: The government raised taxes significantly, it liberalized the labor market, laid off civil servants, reduced salaries for public workers as well as pensions and social services. That also led Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, 51, to earn the reputation of being a cold-hearted master pupil of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Nevertheless, he hopes the Portuguese will reward him for his success.

But that's only the economic side of the Portuguese miracle. The crisis also unleashed a new energy in the Portuguese -- it swept away old structures and also opened the door for a new spirit in the country. The city government in Lisbon played an important role, too. Five years ago, the capital city began providing support to young entrepreneurs, creating a network of contacts, providing access to investors, largely abroad. Mayor António Costa, who is now running as the Socialist's candidate for prime minister, served as the driving force.

The city founded the Start-up Lisboa incubator, which has yielded more than 250 entrepreneurs and created 800 new jobs. The city also helped to make office space available, with software developers and programmers now working in three renovated buildings the historical city center. Those working in tourism, trade and fashion are centered around the magnificent boulevard Avenida da Liberdade. Recently, a center for artists was opened at the foot of the fortress that towers over the city. The EU's Committee of Regions bestowed the city with its "European Entrepreneurial Region of the Year" honor for 2015.

There are reasons behind the success story. People are well-educated in Lisbon, and salaries are lower than in other European metropolitan areas, as are living costs. Seed capital that would disappear in just weeks in London can be enough to fund a company for an entire year here. The city is even beating out rivals like Amsterdam and Barcelona. Lisbon will be the host for the next three years of the Web Summit, one of the largest conferences of its type for young tech entrepreneurs, with 40,000 guests anticipated.

'The Crisis Was an Opportunity'

That's important too, because most of the 108 new businesses that are created in the country each day are linked to hospitality sector. Revenues from tourism alone have increased this year by 12 percent.

"The truth is that the crisis was an opportunity," says Duarte D'Eça Leal. He's only 30 years old, but D'Eça Leal runs one of the hippest hotels in Lisbon -- a luxury hostel whose name says everything: the Independente. From the rooftop bar, he looks out over the throng of colorful buildings on Castilo Hill. He never dreamt he might one day be running a hotel.

When he was 15, D'Eça Leal went to a boarding school in Oxford and later to college at the London Business School. A decade later, he began his career at a major real estate company in Britain. "But I felt something was missing," he says. He decided he would rather invest his talent in Portugal and try to implement his ideas back home. "I felt like Portugal had a lot of potential," he says.

At the end of 2011, he and his brothers renovated the old palace at the edge of the Bairro Alto and opened a hostel and suites for travelers. Now he's the master of over a dozen sleeping spaces, with everything from bunk beds to double rooms and suites, all filled with vintage furniture and fine fabrics from Portuguese mills. Two restaurants are also located inside the Independente.

Establishing the operation was no easy task, considering that, right at the time the Independente opened, the conservative government increased sales tax from 13 to 23 percent. The tax hike forced many family run-businesses to close, but the Independente not only persevered, it also managed to grow, with the brothers since purchasing a neighboring building and now employing a total of 120 workers. D'Eca Leal's success is the product of his own creative initiative. But he has also been helped along by a government program that funds internships for young unemployed people that pays for half of their costs for nine months. The only condition with the government program is that at least one out of three interns must be hired as a permanent employee at the end of the program. "We are able to train people for half the cost and then we can handpick the best ones," says D'Eca Leal.


Filipa Neto, 25, could have established her business anywhere in Europe. And she did in fact register her company's headquarters in London, but Neto and her 13 employees are based in Lisbon. She shares the view of many other young entrepreneurs that country has been developing positively despite all the difficulties in recent years. She says she wants to stay in Portugal and help do her part to promote the upswing.
A year and a half ago, Neto established the start-up Chic by Choice, a company that offers luxury clothing for rent online. She obtained a half a million euros in venture capital to launch the company, no small responsibility for a young woman. From its office in Lisbon that was provided by the city, the staff of Chic by Choice purchases and sends Haute Couture all across Europe.

The company is so successful that Neto aims to hire two new people each month. And that's not all, she says with a smile: In August, she acquired a German competitor.

.


Where is Endo ? ?

Endo, come back


.
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Iberian Nations

Post by Typhoon »

Economist | Shoes explain the re-election of Portugal's austerity government
The cobblers are prospering, and the voters are...not too angry
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
Post Reply