Monday, 24 August 2026

A working group for Social Security (Segurança Social) reform has released a final report suggesting a shift toward complementary social protection systems. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from left-wing parties, including the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), which warned against any moves toward privatization.

Recent analysis indicates that the total tax and social contribution burden on average wages in Portugal exceeds 42%. This high level of taxation significantly reduces the net income received by workers, fueling ongoing debates about the need for structural fiscal reform.

Portugal exported over 66 tonnes of medicinal cannabis in the first half of 2026, according to data from the National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed). This figure represents more than 80% of the total volume exported during the entirety of the previous year.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has called for a swift conclusion to investigations regarding Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves. The minister is currently under scrutiny over the alleged misuse of government vehicles, with the President emphasizing that each sovereign body must take responsibility for its actions.

The government is extending the 20-euro Green Rail Pass (Passe Ferroviário Verde) to include urban train services in Lisbon and Porto starting in the third week of September. This expansion, coinciding with European Mobility Week, also covers the Fertagus line to reduce transport costs for commuters.

The emergency department at the Amadora-Sintra Hospital reported 19 patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery this Sunday. The facility has requested a regional solution to manage the influx, which includes patients transferred from other major hospitals in the Lisbon area.

The National Union of Higher Education (Sindicato Nacional do Ensino Superior or SNESup) has expressed concern after data showed that students from the lowest income bracket represent only 3% of placements in the first phase of university admissions. While the total number of placed students increased, union president José Moreira warned that socioeconomic barriers continue to limit access to competitive courses.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has called for increased state investment in Portugal's interior and border regions to combat depopulation and aging. During a visit to Vila Nova de Cerveira, he argued that a cohesive country must prioritize the vitality of these regions rather than focusing solely on major urban centers.

Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) secretary-general Paulo Raimundo has warned the government against any attempts to privatize or alter Social Security (Segurança Social) funds. Speaking in Fronteira, Raimundo challenged the government to avoid such measures, threatening that they would face the same defeat as their previous labor proposals.

Three of eight individuals arrested last Thursday in Rabo de Peixe, on the island of São Miguel, have been placed in preventive detention (prisão preventiva) on suspicion of drug trafficking. The arrests followed a police operation that saw residents confront Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) officers, leading to warning shots being fired.

One of the four firefighters injured during a fire in Arouca last Wednesday remains in critical condition and underwent further surgery this Sunday. While two other firefighters are recovering, the incident continues to highlight the risks faced by emergency personnel in the region.

Workers at REN Atlântico, which manages the liquefied natural gas terminal in Sines, began a three-day strike this Sunday with 100% participation. The industrial action has raised concerns regarding potential supply disruptions, with officials in Madeira already warning of possible consequences.

The Matosinhos Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) has invested 2.2 million euros in new medical equipment, including a biplane angiograph and surgical beds. The upgrade was funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR), a European-backed initiative aimed at modernizing national healthcare infrastructure.

Four men were stabbed in the early hours of Sunday in the parish of Sacavém, Loures, with three of the victims suffering serious injuries. The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) confirmed that the assailant remains at large following the attack on a public street.