Saturday, 22 August 2026

Around 100 nurses at Amadora-Sintra Hospital have submitted a declaration of disclaimer of responsibility to the administration, citing severe overcrowding and staff shortages in the emergency department. Patients have faced wait times exceeding nine hours for urgent care, while the hospital administration stated that a reinforcement of 13 nurses is currently underway.

The party Chega has threatened to vote against the 2027 State Budget unless the government agrees to lower the retirement age to 65 or for those with 40 years of contributions. Party leadership maintains that reducing public debt within the Social Security fund should facilitate this change, though they noted this demand is not yet a formal red line for the budget's approval.

The government is increasing the temporary discount on the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products (Imposto sobre os Produtos Petrolíferos or ISP) starting next week. The relief will rise by 0.11 cents per litre for diesel and 0.43 cents for petrol to mitigate expected price increases. This measure, published in the Diário da República, aims to offset inflationary pressure on fuel costs.

The party Chega has submitted a parliamentary initiative recommending that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro dismiss the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves. The resolution cites alleged irregularities during Neves's previous tenure as national director of the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), including issues with asset declarations and audits by the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas).

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has forecast heavy showers and thunderstorms for the coast and the North and Centre regions starting Sunday. A low-pressure system arriving from the Azores will bring strong winds and rough seas, marking a shift from the current dry weather.

Provisional data from the platform EuroMomo indicates that over 30,000 excess deaths occurred across Europe between mid-June and mid-August, a period marked by exceptional heatwaves. In Portugal specifically, authorities recorded more than 600 excess deaths during the same timeframe.

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves is facing criticism for driving a Volkswagen Golf GTD seized by the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ). While the minister justifies the use as a cost-saving measure that allows for greater operational autonomy, critics suggest the practice may violate established security protocols for his office. Reports also indicate discrepancies in his claims regarding the costs of destroying chemical materials associated with the vehicle.

Update: Socialist leader criticizes government over minister's vehicle use

Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro has intensified pressure on the government, stating that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro faces daily surprises regarding the minister's conduct. While Carneiro stopped short of demanding an immediate resignation, he warned that the minister's authority is being weakened and that the Prime Minister must decide if the current government remains sustainable.

Livre, the PCP, and the Left Bloc (BE) have forced a parliamentary review of the decree creating the Single Social Benefit (PSU). The parties argue the government's measure fails to meet promises that no one would be harmed and may worsen poverty, with the PCP considering a request to repeal the legislation entirely.

The Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed that the acquisition of three FREMM EVO frigates from Italy was a direct intergovernmental deal without political intermediaries. The company NTGroup (NTG) also clarified that it did not participate in final negotiations and is not seeking any commission from the Portuguese State. This follows recent parliamentary inquiries and public scrutiny regarding the procurement process.

The Portuguese government has acquired a 13.7% stake in the National Energy Network (Redes Energéticas Nacionais or REN) for 380 million euros. While the government cites national sovereignty and energy security as reasons for the move, critics argue the acquisition signals a return to state capitalism and lacks a clear economic rationale, given that the sector is already strictly regulated.