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Marisa Matias and José Gusmão, MEPs for Left Bloc, have questioned the European Commission after being reported that the main websites of the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) and other public services are providing data from citizens for the commercial exploitation of Google and other advertising companies.

Catarina Martins, Left Bloc coordinator, and José Soeiro, MP for Left Bloc, presented a proposal that aims to regulate work done through digital platforms: employment contracts, penalties for non-compliant platforms and clarification of the algorithm are the main proposals.

Catarina Martins, Left Bloc coordinator, stated that the Portuguese government must have “a strong position condemning Israel’s attacks” and, while holding the presidency of Council of the European Union, take the necessary measures so that immediate sanctions are applied, in order to stop what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

The victory of teacher and trade unionist Pedro Castillo in the Peruvian presidential election puts a brake on the specter of the corrupt and authoritarian right led by candidate Keiko Fujimori.

Bloco de Esquerda promotes a Social Counter-Summit on the 6th and 7th of May, in the city of Porto, joining those who refuse to face this reality with the fatalism of the complacent and who have contributed to networks of resistance and solidarity against the crisis.

Left Bloc presented a draft resolution in the Portuguese Parliament for the government to defend the waiver in the European Union and for the vaccine to be treated as “a public good with universal access”.

Marisa Matias and José Gusmão, MEPs for Left Bloc, are critical of the European Commission’s "unambitious" policies on social rights and of the follow-my-leader stance of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council.

With the European Union-India summit soon to be held in the city of Porto, Left Bloc expresses its solidarity with the Indian population oppressed by Narendra Modi’s divisive and persecutory policies.

Marisa Matias, MEP for Left Bloc, stresses that “perhaps the States would be freer to act” if there were no multinationals in the province of Cabo Delgado which dedicate themselves “to the extraction of natural resources in an absolutely predatory way”.

Catarina Martins, national coordinator of Left Bloc, highlighted that “once enacted, the laws on social support have to be applied”, besides guaranteeing “the support that has been legislated is already in force and it is important to ensure these benefits reach the people needing them”.

“The left must assert that the response to the climate crisis, as well as the response to the pandemic crisis, requires European and international collaboration. What is clear is that the European treaties are the first obstacle to such cooperation”, writes Catarina Martins, Bloco de Esquerda’s Coordinator, in “Quistioni” the new magazine of the European Left.

“With the vote that has just been taken, the Portuguese Parliament added dignity and respect to our democracy,” declared MP José Manuel Pureza. The bill was approved with 136 votes in favour of the Left Bloc, PAN, PEV, part of the PS and PSD, IL, and non-registered MPs.

After a year of having to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, we can safely acknowledge that social support in Portugal has been clearly insufficient.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa surpassed the 50% barrier, which allows him to be re-elected on the first round. Marisa Matias, Left Bloc’s candidate for the presidential election, obtained 3.95% of the votes.

Moisés Ferreira, Left Bloc’s MP, underlined that the Portuguese legislation enables health authorities to request the services they want, especially amid a pandemic crisis