Should a Guardian reader’s wife stay out of neighbours’ disputes in Portugal?
A Guardian reader's household disagrees over how far the wife should be involved in their Portuguese building's affairs, and readers have given their views.
Key points
- A British couple living in a small Portuguese city disagree about the wife's role as condominium co-chair.
- The husband wants his wife to step back from feuds and gossip among neighbours.
- The wife says she wants to mitigate the impact of wealthy foreign buyers by getting involved.
- Guardian readers gave mixed verdicts, with several saying she should step back and stay neutral.
- An online poll on whether she should refuse to get involved closes on 11 November.
A couple who moved from the UK to Portugal a couple of years ago are at odds over the wife’s role in their apartment block. The case was published by The Guardian as a ‘You be the judge’ feature, which asks readers to decide who is right.
The wife, Rosie, volunteered to become co-chair of the condominium, the body that manages shared funds and the building’s upkeep. She speaks very little Portuguese. Her husband, Marcus, says she has become too involved in long-running neighbourly quarrels.
The husband’s concerns
Marcus says the monthly condominium meetings deal with communal money and who owes what. He says Rosie has extra work with the other co-chair, a long-time resident who has strong views about the other residents.
He says the couple are the only British residents in the building. He would prefer that they stay neutral and keep their social life separate from building business. He also says the role should not make his wife more stressed.
Marcus would rather learn about Portugal’s customs in a more relaxed, apolitical manner. He finds it unusual that neighbours in the building share drinks and social events, as this is not how things worked in the UK.
The wife’s position
Rosie says she wants to limit the effect that rich foreigners have on the city. She knows that foreign buyers are a topic of debate locally, and the couple bought their flat rather than renting it. She attends housing marches and says the government should build more affordable homes.
She says the building’s records have not been kept well, and that some disputes have existed for decades. She admits it is hard to stay impartial when she hears gossip, but she believes it is useful to know who can be trusted. She has said she will not step down.
What readers said
The Guardian asked readers, known as a jury, to give their opinions. Several said that newcomers should steer clear of a leading role in building disputes. One reader said that staying politely distant is not truly neutral, because it leaves others to do the work.
Other readers argued that the wife should step back and remain impartial while in the role. One said that getting involved in local life is a good thing, but that a co-chair has a duty to stay neutral when resolving disputes.
The Guardian has also opened an online poll asking whether Rosie should flatly refuse to get involved. Voting ends at 9am GMT on Wednesday 11 November. In the previous week’s poll, 91% of respondents judged a different reader’s case to be guilty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dispute about?
According to The Guardian, a husband wants his wife to step back from her role as co-chair of their Portuguese apartment block. He says she has become too involved in neighboursu0026#039; long-running feuds and gossip.
When does the Guardian reader poll end?
The online poll asks whether Rosie should refuse to get involved. Voting ends at 9am GMT on Wednesday 11 November.
Why does the wife want to stay involved?
Rosie says she wants to reduce the impact of wealthy foreign buyers on the city. She also believes that knowing who is trustworthy helps improve life in the building.
Sources
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