Wednesday, 22 July 2026

The Attorney General's Office is investigating the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, following reports that a construction company linked to his private property renovation also held multiple contracts with the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) during his tenure as its head. Authorities have identified potential evidence of misappropriation and abuse of power regarding the transport of chemical materials used in drug manufacturing by the same contractor.

Update: Chega considers parliamentary inquiry into Luís Neves

André Ventura, the leader of the Chega party, has announced that his party is considering a formal proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the mandates of Luís Neves at the head of the PJ. Ventura stated that the ongoing controversies regarding the minister's property renovations and the seized trailer provide sufficient grounds for legislative scrutiny.

The Association of Geography Teachers has requested an urgent review of the automatic grading parameters for item 12.1 in the Geography A national exam. This follows two previously identified errors in the same test, prompting teachers to contact the National Exams Jury and the president of EduQA, Luís Santos, to ensure fair assessment for the 16,714 students who took the exam.

The second phase of national secondary school exams started today amid ongoing student uncertainty regarding first-phase results caused by digital system errors. Education Minister Fernando Alexandre has ruled out his resignation, maintaining that the government's exam schedule remains in place.

Update: President demands equality in national exams

President António José Seguro met with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to demand that the government ensure equality for all students following the technical failures. The president of the Institute for Education, Quality and Assessment (Instituto de Educação, Qualidade e Avaliação or EduQa), Luís Pereira dos Santos, insisted that the digital system was tested multiple times before the exams began.

During a state visit to Cape Verde, the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, announced a 100 million euro credit line to support Portuguese companies investing in the archipelago. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, with a specific focus on innovation, the blue economy, and new business projects.

The Portuguese government is moving forward with the 3.9 billion euro acquisition of three FREMM EVO frigates from the Italian company Fincantieri. While officials anticipate a significant return for the national economy, representatives from the domestic defence industry have expressed uncertainty regarding the extent of local participation in the project.

The number of scheduled caesarean sections in Portugal has quadrupled, reaching 55.3% of all such procedures in 2025, according to recent hospital data. Medical experts warn that this trend exceeds the 20% recommendation from the World Health Organization and emphasize that the surgery should be reserved for cases where it provides a clear benefit to the mother or baby.

Former government ministers are urging action regarding the pending deal between Galp and Moeve, warning that Portugal risks losing control of its only oil refinery in Sines. Experts cited concerns over reduced market competition and potential costs to taxpayers if the sale proceeds without government oversight.

Update: Minister Luís Neves faces investigation over trailer case

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves is under scrutiny after the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) found evidence of potential abuse of power and embezzlement. The investigation concerns the handover of a seized trailer to a contractor who previously held public contracts with the PJ, with Neves promising to gather documents to clarify the situation.

Google officially launched its new transatlantic submarine cable, Nuvem, which connects Myrtle Beach in the United States to Sines. The infrastructure aims to increase the resilience of digital communications across the North Atlantic and is expected to be fully operational by 2027.

An 11-year-old boy allegedly stabbed his father in the arm and leg while trying to protect his mother during a domestic violence incident in São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon. The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) confirmed the child intervened after witnessing mutual physical assaults between his parents.

The National Communications Authority (Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações or Anacom) has fined Vodafone 160,000 euros for making unilateral changes to the contracts of nearly 450,000 subscribers. The regulator stated the company failed to properly notify customers about mandatory advertisement viewing in its TV service, though Vodafone has announced it will appeal the decision.

The movement Porta a Porta – Casa para Todos has launched a national week of action to protest the government's housing policies. The group is demanding the return of rent caps and criticizing tax benefits granted to landlords, with demonstrations planned in six cities including Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra.

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz stated that all construction permits issued during his time as deputy mayor of Cascais were legal and transparent. This follows an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office into the construction of a hotel and 120 apartments that allegedly violate the Municipal Master Plan (Plano Diretor Municipal or PDM).

The e-commerce platform AliExpress announced it will appeal a 550 million euro fine imposed by the European Commission. The company labeled the sanction, which relates to the sale of illegal products, as disproportionate.

The main road IP3 remains closed in both directions in Penacova nearly 20 hours after a truck spilled resin onto the pavement. Authorities have not provided a reopening time, and traffic is currently being diverted to the National Road 2 (Estrada Nacional 2 or EN2).