Sunday, 7 June 2026

Paulo Raimundo, the leader of the Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), has accused the government of scheduling the parliamentary discussion of the new labour package in bad faith. Raimundo claimed the government is acting out of fear and warned that his party will remain alert to what he described as institutional tricks during the legislative process.

The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Portugal has expressed concern that requiring recipients of the Single Social Benefit (Prestação Social Única or PSU) to perform social work could increase stigma against the poor. The network argues that linking benefits to mandatory activities may unfairly penalize those in situations of economic vulnerability.

Business owners in Albufeira are challenging new local council measures that reduce operating hours and impose noise limits in the Oura area and the old town. A group of 14 entrepreneurs has filed a legal challenge to halt the restrictions, while some establishments have already faced fines from the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) for non-compliance.

The National School Health Programme (Programa Nacional de Saúde Escolar or PNSE) has entered public discussion with a proposal to increase sex education projects in schools by 40%. The initiative aims to cover topics including consent, gender diversity, and sexual violence, following previous debates regarding the role of citizenship education in the classroom.

Portuguese television operators RTP, SIC, and TVI have reached an agreement with FIFA to broadcast 20 matches of the 2026 World Cup. The package includes all matches featuring the Portuguese national team, the opening game, and the final. The channels will share the broadcast schedule, ensuring free access for viewers across the country.

The Order of Notaries (Ordem dos Notários) warns that the government's proposal to unlock the sale of properties from undivided inheritances will not provide an immediate solution to the housing crisis. Head of the order, Jorge Batista da Silva, argues the measure may take up to 20 years to show significant impact and could increase legal disputes. Meanwhile, notaries have also called for the Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira or AT) to refund the property transfer tax (Imposto Municipal sobre as Transmissões Onerosas de Imóveis or IMT) to young people previously excluded from exemptions due to inheritance shares.

Minister of Agriculture José Manuel Fernandes has admitted that the government's 20 million euro support package for farmers is insufficient to cover rising production costs. He is now advocating for a coordinated European response to address the financial strain caused by energy and fertilizer prices. The minister emphasized that national measures alone are not enough to prevent market distortions in the agricultural sector.

The Ministry of Justice has rejected accusations from the largest registry union that it attempted to influence workers ahead of an upcoming strike. The union had claimed the government was instrumentalizing the Institute of Registries and Notaries (Instituto dos Registos e Notariado or IRN) to condition staff. The ministry maintains that it has not interfered in the industrial action.

Variable-rate housing loans in Portugal face upward pressure as the Euribor rates for three, six, and twelve months have risen. The six-month rate, which is the most common benchmark for Portuguese variable-rate mortgages, reached 2.588% as of June 5.

A tax dispute has emerged between Portugal and Spain regarding foreign retirees who previously benefited from the non-habitual resident regime. Spanish authorities are reportedly refusing to recognize certain residency certificates issued by Portugal, potentially allowing Spain to tax pensions that were previously exempt or subject to lower rates.