Don’t cry for parking, Lisbon

Special parking arrangements for US pop diva Madonna in the Portuguese capital Lisbon have sparked a political row, including a warning to the mayor that the city does not belong to him.

Lisbon’s city council on Monday revealed details of a deal granting Madonna rights to park a fleet of cars in the packed capital after being accused of special treatment for her.

The weekly Expresso broke the story of a contract between the Material Girl singer and the city to rent a lot that can accommodate up to 15 vehicles next to the “palace” she occupies on the banks of the Tagus River.

The news provoked indignation across the political spectrum in a capital that suffers a lack of parking and bad traffic jams.

The Left Bloc, a coalition partner in the Socialist-led government, called for the parking problem to be dealt with “responsibly” given the difficulties residents face.

The main centrist opposition party PSD said it wanted to know “the reason why the mayor granted such an exception”.

The other centrist party CDS attacked mayor Fernando Medina and accused him of “using heritage assets for his advantage”.

“The city of Lisbon does not belong to Fernando Medina,” CDS said.

City hall decided on Monday to reveal the contents of the contract with Madonna, saying it was drawn up “to avoid traffic snarl-ups along a narrow but very busy road”.

Signed in January, the deal gives Madonna access to the land for €720 (R11 500)a month.

The pop star set up in Lisbon last summer following in the footsteps of Hollywood actors Monica Bellucci, Michael Fassbender, and John Malkovich drawn to Portugal’s capital which ranks among Europe’s coolest. –