Madonna's 'special deal' has Lisbon in a jam

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

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 Lisbon's 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 euros a month. It rules out access to the neighbouring "palace" building which is under negotiation to become the new East Timor embassy.

Madonna's contract will cease if East Timor takes the building for its embassy.

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 regularly ranks among Europe's coolest.

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