Sunday, 12 July 2026

The political party Livre held its 17th congress in Sintra this weekend to elect a new spokesperson, with Jorge Pinto expected to succeed outgoing leader Rui Tavares. During the event, party members criticized the government's recent rental policies and debated the party's future strategy, including its stance on potential cooperation with the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS).

The National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores or Fenprof) announced plans to file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office (Procuradoria-Geral da República or PGR) regarding the electronic grading process for national exams. The union seeks an official inquiry into potential irregularities, while the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação or MECI) faces continued criticism from opposition parties over the management of the assessment period.

A 29-year-old officer from the National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) died Friday night after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic on the IC2 near Alcobaça. The driver was detained with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit, and the incident has drawn condolences from the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, and the Ministry of Internal Administration.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) recorded 732 inquiries related to sextortion in 2025, with approximately 900 investigations currently open. Authorities report an average of two new cases per day, highlighting the prevalence of online blackmail involving threats to share intimate content.

The Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industries (Associação dos Industriais da Construção Civil e Obras Públicas or AICCOPN) warns that addressing the national shortfall of 300,000 homes will take at least three years. According to the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal), this deficit remains a significant challenge for the housing sector.

The government will provide overtime pay to teachers grading national exams as recognition for their extraordinary effort during the current assessment period. This measure, confirmed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação or MECI), follows an announcement by Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) spokesperson Sebastião Bugalho.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) have arrested a 54-year-old woman suspected of murdering her 57-year-old husband in their Corroios home. The incident, which occurred on June 29 during a domestic violence episode, led to the suspect being detained outside of flagrante delicto.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros or MNE) confirmed that the number of Portuguese citizens and those of Portuguese descent who died in the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 110. While 55 people remain missing, the total death toll from the disaster has climbed to 4,118, according to the latest official reports.

The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) has demanded urgent clarification from the Minister of Education regarding allegations that national exams with incomplete answers were graded. School principals have also expressed concern over the lack of operational details regarding the exam process, warning that such practices could undermine trust in higher education access.

Portugal has reached a record population of 11.4 million, yet demographic data from the Pordata statistical base indicates the elderly population is expanding five times faster than the active workforce. While immigration has driven seven consecutive years of growth, the country remains the third oldest in the European Union, highlighting significant generational and regional imbalances.

The PS has formally requested documentation from the Budget, Finance, and Public Administration Committee regarding the revised project for the new Banco de Portugal (BdP) headquarters. This follows an announcement by the BdP Governor, Álvaro Santos Pereira, regarding substantial changes to the project, including a new memorandum of understanding with the insurance company Fidelidade.