Carlos Eduardo Reis won the Braga district election. Bruno Ventura, caught on wiretaps, replaced Ângelo Pereira, another defendant in the case whose preliminary hearing is coming to an end.
The 'Tutti Frutti' network takes over the PSD
Monday, 23 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Social Democratic Party ('Partido Social Democrata' or 'PSD') is a liberal-conservative political party in Portugal that is the leading partner of the The Democratic Alliance (AD) which is the country's ruling party, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The Social Democratic Party, despite its name, occupies the centre-right of Portugal's political spectrum. Luís Montenegro, who became Prime Minister in April 2024, leads Portugal's current minority government. The PSD has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. Montenegro, a former party leader from 1996-1999, was elected with the highest approval rating among party leaders at 10.7 points out of 20.
The Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition that includes the smaller CDS – People's Party, a Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner. Together, they govern without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation.
Rui Rio is a centre‑right politician who served as mayor of Porto from 2002 to 2013 and led the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) from 2018 to 2022. Known for moderate and fiscally cautious positions, he remains an influential voice in PSD debates and national politics, so journalists and party members often cite his views.
- 2026: Minister of Environment and Energy
- Party: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Partido Social Democrata
- Politician, mechanical engineer, academic
Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Energy Minister, is a Portuguese engineer and politician affiliated with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) who has served as a Member of the European Parliament and held government roles connected to science and higher education policy. Her work on research and EU policy can affect funding and regulation that matter to professionals and students living in Portugal.
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Tears, lies and the desire for mass vehicular assault: 'Tutti Frutti' case sparks war within the PSD1:30am, 23 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Breaks12:30am, 23 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Constitutional Court: The PSD "wants to make an agreement with a party that wants to change the regime" and is "defrauding the 'no means no' premise"11:52pm, 22 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Appointments to the Constitutional Court 'are not a matter of party agreement'. Pedro Duarte advises the PS to realise it 'does not own the regime'11:52pm, 22 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- PS to use the Budget as a "bargaining chip" for Constitutional Court appointments, and this "is a sign of great fragility"11:40pm, 22 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- The PS is wrong in the Constitutional Court war7:27pm, 22 Mar 2026 • Público
