The public forest management company Florestgal has been without a president for over a year, and its remaining board of directors has been in a caretaker capacity for more than two years. Based in Figueiró dos Vinhos and created following the 2017 wildfires, the company has lacked leadership since José de Jesus Gaspar resigned in January 2025. The remaining board members, Cândida Pestana and Maria Azevedo e Silva, have continued in their roles despite their mandates expiring in 2023. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Secretariat of State for Forests have provided no explanation for the delay in appointing a new board. The company, which manages over 15,000 hectares of forest, has seen multiple leadership changes since its inception, including the dismissal of former president Rui Gonçalves in 2022 and the departure of its first leader, José Miguel Medeiros, in 2021.
Public company Florestgal has been without a president for over a year
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.
Sustainability (sustentabilidade) means meeting present needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet theirs, covering environmental, economic and social dimensions. For residents it affects local planning, jobs and services—look for municipal or company targets, timelines and measurable actions when assessing how sustainable a place or employer is.
