Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Following ten months of negotiations and over sixty meetings, the government's proposed 'Trabalho XXI' labour reforms remain stalled, leading to accusations from the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) that the executive is failing to take responsibility. Political commentators suggest the government is preparing a narrative to explain the potential rejection of the package as unions organize for a second general strike. Critics argue that the lack of clear communication has allowed opponents to frame necessary productivity adjustments as radical threats.

André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, is insisting that Parliament reconfirm a decree allowing the loss of nationality as an accessory penalty for serious crimes, despite the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) twice declaring the measure unconstitutional. While the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) has stated it will not provoke an institutional conflict over the matter, Ventura plans to raise the issue in upcoming meetings with the Prime Minister. The debate continues as the government navigates these legal challenges alongside other legislative priorities.

The Minister of Health has acknowledged ongoing difficulties in reducing waiting lists for oncology and cardiology surgeries, with data showing over 209,000 patients awaiting procedures at the end of 2025. The Portuguese League Against Cancer (Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro or LPCC) reports that more than 21% of patients have exceeded their guaranteed maximum response time for care. Officials hope that new access systems will eventually alleviate these delays within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS).

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) has warned of an increase in sophisticated scams where criminals impersonate officials from banks, the government, or utility companies. In the first three months of 2026, the GNR recorded 298 such fraud cases, alongside 671 incidents of computer fraud using 'spoofing' techniques. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant as these criminals increasingly mimic legitimate contact information on victims' mobile devices.

The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) is finalizing a new digital form designed to streamline the family reunification process for infants born to immigrant parents in Portugal. This initiative aims to simplify the procedure for obtaining residency permits for children. The digital tool is expected to be operational by the end of this week.

The Institute of Registries and Notaries (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado or IRN) has clarified that the recently approved Nationality Law applies exclusively to new applications submitted after its enactment. Applications filed prior to the new law will continue to be reviewed under previous criteria, including existing residency requirements. This confirmation follows public questions regarding the impact of the legislative changes on pending nationality requests.

Data from the Health Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde or ERS) shows a sharp rise in waiting lists for cancer surgeries and initial oncology and cardiology appointments at the end of 2025. Additionally, surgical activity in hospitals with National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) protocols fell by 7% in the second half of 2025, while destination hospitals saw a 4.5% increase. The Portuguese League Against Cancer (Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro or LPCC) has urged the Ministry of Health to implement urgent measures to ensure timely care.

Telecommunications operator NOS recorded a 4.7% increase in net income during the first quarter of 2026, reaching 62 million euros. Consolidated revenue also grew by 1.9% to 460.2 million euros, driven by strong performance in the IT and cinema segments. This growth occurred despite infrastructure damage caused by severe storms in the central region of the country.

A new pilot project, SAD+Saúde, began this Monday to provide home-based medical and social support for individuals with dependency or health limitations. The initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, operating through five Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social or IPSS). The service offers 24-hour assistance, including meals, hygiene care, and medication management.

A legislative package aimed at addressing the housing crisis, which includes reducing the value-added tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado or IVA) on construction to 6% and lowering income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares or IRS) on rental income, remains at the Presidency of the Republic. President António José Seguro has been reviewing the decree-law for approximately one month following its approval by the Council of Ministers.

Update: President has until May 24 to review housing package

President António José Seguro must decide whether to promulgate the housing fiscal package by May 24. Additionally, he is expected to rule on the simplification of construction licensing processes by the end of May.

The Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas or TdC) has identified illegalities regarding the appointment of at least 49 managers at the Oeiras City Council (Câmara de Oeiras). These officials have been serving in acting roles beyond the 90-day legal limit without the required public tender procedures. The TdC report suggests these findings could lead to future disciplinary action against those responsible for human resources management.

Enrollment in Portuguese as a Host Language (Português Língua de Acolhimento or PLA) courses has increased significantly, rising from 22,014 in 2020/2021 to 56,397 in 2025. These courses are essential for immigrants as they provide a diploma that serves as proof of language proficiency for nationality applications. Data from the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) indicates that the number of available courses has more than doubled during this period.

The World Health Organization (Organização Mundial da Saúde or OMS) has recommended a 42-day quarantine for passengers from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. While the recommendation includes active monitoring, the decision to implement these measures remains at the discretion of individual countries.

Over 500 foreign investors holding Portuguese golden visas are organizing a collective legal challenge following the recent changes to the Nationality Law. The investors, who are predominantly American, argue that the lack of a transitional regime in the new law unfairly impacts their path to citizenship.