Thursday, 21 May 2026

Journalists from the state-owned news agency Lusa held a 24-hour strike this Wednesday to protest against potential political interference. The industrial action coincided with a parliamentary debate regarding government proposals to redefine the agency's corporate structure and reporting statutes.

The Bank of Portugal is consulting with financial institutions on a proposal to reduce the maximum debt-to-income ratio for new home loans from 50% to 45%. This macroprudential measure aims to curb excessive household debt and ensure long-term financial stability in the housing market.

The government has implemented a new tax package for housing, including a reduction in the value-added tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado or IVA) on construction from 23% to 6% and a decrease in the personal income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares or IRS) on rental income to 10%. These measures, which aim to increase housing supply and support tenants, apply retroactively to the beginning of the year. Additionally, the annual deduction limit for rent paid under the IRS has increased from 700 to 900 euros.

The Court of Appeal has validated evidence of corruption and other crimes against Pedro Calado, a key figure in the case that led to the resignation of the Madeira regional government. In a separate incident, the mayor of Vila do Conde, Isaac Braga, has resigned from his position following allegations of personal spending using parish council funds.

The government has submitted a new labour law proposal to the Assembly of the Republic that requires employees to provide a medical declaration every six months to access breastfeeding leave. While officials argue this maintains a favorable regime, the proposal has faced criticism from unions and legal experts who view the requirement as a shift in the paradigm of parental rights.

Portugal's revised nationality law, published in the Diário da República, has officially increased the residency requirement for citizenship for nationals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP) from five to seven years. Foreigners from outside the European Union now face a 10-year residency threshold before they are eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

The Portuguese government has formally condemned the actions of Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, following the circulation of footage showing detained humanitarian aid activists forced to kneel with their hands tied. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Paulo Rangel, described the treatment as an intolerable violation of human dignity and confirmed that Portuguese citizens were among those detained during the naval blockade incident.

The national rail operator, CP, has launched a public tender worth 504 million euros to acquire 12 high-speed trains, with options for eight additional units. Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz confirmed the project aims for operational status by 2032, connecting Lisbon, Porto, and Vigo, with the first new trains expected to arrive in 2031.

The government is pushing for a reform that would eliminate the mandatory prior visa (visto prévio) for most public contracts under 10 million euros. While the ruling parties support the move to reduce bureaucracy, the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) and other opposition groups have expressed concerns regarding the potential for increased corruption and reduced transparency.

The 'Portugal, Balanço Social 2025' report from the Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) indicates that the risk of poverty in Portugal fell to 15.4% in 2025. Despite this improvement, the study highlights persistent challenges, noting that 9% of employed individuals remain poor and that vulnerable groups, such as the unemployed and single-parent households, face significantly higher risks.

Portugal's revised Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade) took effect on May 19, 2026, introducing stricter residency requirements for those seeking citizenship. Citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP) and the European Union now face a seven-year residency threshold, while other nationals must wait ten years.

A patient admitted to São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon with suspected hantavirus has tested negative, according to the Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS). The individual, who had recently traveled from a cruise ship affected by an outbreak, was transferred to the Curry Cabral Hospital for specialized testing following standard health protocols.

A new European study reveals that Portuguese patients wait an average of 919 days to access innovative cancer treatments, ranking among the longest wait times in Europe. Meanwhile, the SNS reported record spending on medicines in 2025, reaching 4.4 billion euros, with hospital-based drug costs accounting for the largest share of the expenditure.