Sunday, 3 May 2026

Drivers in Portugal will face higher costs at the pump starting Monday, with diesel prices expected to increase by up to 9.5 cents and petrol by 6 cents per litre. According to the Automobile Club of Portugal (Automóvel Club de Portugal or ACP), the average price for diesel could reach 2.05 euros per litre, while petrol may average 1.99 euros. These forecasts account for recent adjustments to the tax on petroleum products (Imposto sobre os Produtos Petrolíferos or ISP).

Update: Government increases fuel tax discount to mitigate price hikes

In response to the expected price surge, the government has further increased the discount on the ISP. The subsidy for diesel will rise by an additional 1.5 cents, while the petrol subsidy increases by 0.6 cents.

President of the Republic António José Seguro visited the Ovibeja agricultural fair this Saturday, expressing understanding for the difficulties faced by farmers. He specifically addressed the impact of the Middle East conflict and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which he stated should never have closed. Seguro emphasized the need for affordable fertilizer imports to prevent further increases in food prices for Portuguese consumers.

The leader of the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), Paulo Raimundo, has challenged the government to withdraw its proposed labour reform to avoid a general strike scheduled for June 3rd. The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) has indicated it may call off the strike if the government drops the proposal.

Taxpayers who missed the opportunity to claim the Youth IRS (IRS Jovem) in their 2023 or 2024 tax returns can still submit a correction. The tax authority allows for a replacement declaration until June 30th, though a standard fine of 25 euros typically applies to these late submissions.

The European Commission and the European Parliament are preparing a potential response to United States President Donald Trump's threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on European-manufactured cars and trucks. While the Commission stated it is keeping its options open, European officials rejected Trump's accusations that the EU violated a trade deal reached last summer. The German automotive industry has also called for the immediate opening of negotiations to resolve the dispute.

The Migration Technicians Union has called for a rigorous investigation into the circumstances that led to Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) searches at the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) branch in the Azores. The union expressed solidarity with staff in Ponta Delgada and warned that the negative public exposure of the institution is placing significant pressure on its employees.

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) is intensifying support for thousands of pilgrims traveling to the Sanctuary of Fátima for the May 12 and 13 celebrations. The Peregrinação Segura 2026 operation aims to ensure road safety and traffic flow, including real-time alerts on the Waze platform. The operation will focus on protecting faithful travelers on routes with heavy traffic and narrow shoulders.

The Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) announced plans to propose a 50-euro general increase for all pensions starting July 1st. Unlike one-off supplements previously granted by the government, the party argues this measure would consolidate the increase into the permanent pension value. The government has historically resisted permanent hikes to avoid increasing long-term Social Security expenditure.

Hugo Carneiro, a PSD deputy, argues that it is important for the labour package to be brought before Parliament.