Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has launched an inquiry into the municipality's General Secretariat to investigate the procedures behind a long-standing collaboration protocol for Christmas lighting, which has been in effect since 2012. This follows 'Operation Lumen', an investigation by the Judicial Police into suspected corruption, which led to searches of several municipalities and the arrest of the Lisbon City Council's secretary-general, Alberto Laplaine Guimarães. Moedas stated that the inquiry aims to determine if the contractual procedures and protocols involved any irregularities, independent of the ongoing criminal investigation by the Public Prosecution Service.
Christmas lights: Carlos Moedas opens inquiry into the Lisbon City Council General Secretariat
Thursday, 19 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Public Administration (Administração Pública) is Portugal's central, regional and local government bodies and the public-sector workforce that deliver services like healthcare, education and municipal functions. A pay rise announced on 20 February 2026 raised the state's base public-sector salary to €934.99 with retroactive payments back to January 2026, so employees and those who contract with state bodies should expect updated payrolls and potential budget effects.
