The mayor did not respond to Nuno Melo's phone call or message, but the minister guaranteed that military aid went ahead regardless. Gonçalo Lopes refused to get involved in controversies over phone calls and thanked the Armed Forces for their work.
Nuno Melo says he did not wait for the mayor's response "for the military to go to Leiria"
Friday, 13 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.
