"The people of the Algarve deserve for this region to have a more resilient economy, less dependent on seasonality and international contexts. Above all, they deserve what has long been denied to them: security, predictability and hope for the future. The certainty that they can face the present and the future with confidence, come rain or shine", argued Maria Graça Carvalho, in the debate 'The Algarve is a national priority', at the University of Algarve.

Drought

In March, the minister announced the easing of restrictions on the use and consumption of water in the region, highlighting that, due to the rain that month, "there had not been so much water in the dams" in the south of the country for 20 years.

The situation in the Algarve has been evolving favourably, with an additional 99.3 cubic hectometres (hm3) of water storage recorded at the beginning of March compared to the same period in 2024, said the minister, adding that there are conditions for a possible new easing of the restrictions in force, whether in agriculture or in the urban sector or tourism.

The restrictions had been imposed by the Government led by António Costa (PS), in February 2024, when it declared a drought alert situation in the Algarve, but the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced, in May, an easing of restrictions and an increase in investments to increase water availability in the region.