New financial regulations now prohibit cash transactions exceeding 3,000 euros, while the government prepares to centralize emergency response systems by November. Residents should also prepare for the September 23 implementation of a national ban on face coverings in public spaces.
Portugal and five other European Union member states have requested that the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU initiate a debate on a new mechanism to tax extraordinary profits of oil companies. The coalition argues that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East remains the primary driver behind high energy prices, necessitating a coordinated European approach to the issue.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has enacted new legislation to overhaul the licensing, maintenance, and oversight of rail transport in Portugal. The new framework applies to metropolitan systems, trams, and historic funiculars, following the fatal derailment of the Glória funicular in 2025.
Electoral Mandate and Democratic Consensus:
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was elected President of Portugal on January 24, 2016, winning 52.0% of the vote in the first round—a decisive victory in a fragmented field. He campaigned as an independent, positioning himself as a unifying figure after years of austerity from Portugal's 2011–14 bailout, promising to repair political divisions and restore national confidence. His campaign emphasized moderation and cross-party consensus, a departure from his decades-long association with the center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD). Upon taking office on March 9, 2016, he suspended his party membership for the duration of his presidency.
His 2021 re-election proved extraordinary: Rebelo de Sousa secured 60.7% of the vote—the third-highest margin in Portuguese presidential electoral history since the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Historically, he became the first candidate ever to win in all 308 municipalities and the vast majority of parishes, ranging from 51.3% in Beja District to 72.16% in Madeira. This unprecedented sweep reflected his broad appeal across social, geographic, and ideological divides.
Constitutional Role and Crisis Leadership:
Portugal operates as a semi-presidential system where the president, while largely ceremonial, exercises meaningful influence over national security, foreign policy, and military affairs as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Rebelo de Sousa leveraged this authority during Portugal's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, he requested parliamentary authorization for a state of emergency—the first nationwide declaration in 46 years of democratic history—to contain the crisis. He voluntarily quarantined after potential COVID-19 exposure in March 2020, and later tested positive in January 2021 while remaining asymptomatic. His measured handling of the pandemic, balancing public health with institutional continuity, contributed to his landslide 2021 re-election.
Diplomatic Engagement and International Presence:
Rebelo de Sousa has conducted extensive state visits representing Portugal's interests across diverse regions: the Vatican, Spain, Mozambique, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Cuba, the United Kingdom, Greece, the United States, and Angola. A notable diplomatic highlight occurred in 2019 when he joined President Emmanuel Macron at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, representing European military cooperation and the European Intervention Initiative. These engagements positioned Portugal as an active participant in global affairs, particularly regarding colonial history and Atlantic security partnerships.
Colonial Legacy and Historical Accountability:
During his presidency, Rebelo de Sousa has publicly supported making restitution and acknowledging abuses committed during Portugal's colonial history and the country's role in the Atlantic slave trade. This position marked a significant policy shift, as Portugal historically avoided confronting its imperial past compared to other European powers. His stance reflected evolving attitudes within Portuguese society toward historical accountability.
Controversies and Public Criticism:
Rebelo de Sousa's presidency has not been without controversy. In 2023, allegations emerged that he had intervened to expedite treatment for Brazilian twins with Zolgensma, an expensive rare disease medication, raising questions about presidential influence and potential corruption. These claims implicated his son and generated criticism across Portuguese political and media sectors. Additionally, in April 2024, Rebelo de Sousa made controversial remarks comparing the speed of Prime Ministers António Costa and Luís Montenegro using orientalist language that drew public rebuke. In August 2025, he called U.S. President Donald Trump a "Russian asset" at a PSD event, demonstrating his willingness to make provocative foreign policy statements.
Constitutional Constraints and Legacy:
Under Portugal's constitution, Rebelo de Sousa is barred from running for a third consecutive term, meaning his presidency concludes with elections scheduled for January 18, 2026. His decade-long tenure has established him as one of Portugal's most popular recent heads of state, characterized by broad consensus-building and institutional stability. Whether future presidents can replicate his cross-party appeal remains an open question for Portuguese democracy as it enters a new era.
The Ministry of Health, led by Ana Paula Martins, plans to identify new regional emergency services by the end of November. The initiative aims to create a more integrated and sustainable national network, with a specific focus on evaluating orthopaedic response capacity in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region.
Ana Paula Martins is a Portuguese pharmacist and politician who has served as the Minister of Health in Portugal since April 2024. A member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), she was reappointed to the position in the second government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in June 2025.
Professional Background
Pharmaceutical Leadership: She served as the President of the Order of Pharmacists (Bastonária da Ordem dos Farmacêuticos) from 2016 to 2022.
Hospital Management: She was the President of the Board of Directors of Hospital de Santa Maria (CHULN) in Lisbon from December 2022 to January 2024.
Academic Work: She holds a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy and has been an assistant professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon for over 20 years.
Political Career
Government Role: As Minister of Health, she has overseen the implementation of the "SNS Emergency Plan" and recently addressed issues such as INEM staffing and public-private partnerships in healthcare.
Party Leadership: She served as Vice President of the PSD under Rui Rio (2021–2022).
Parliament: She was elected as a member of the Assembly of the Republic representing the Lisbon constituency in 2024.
Four people were struck by a vehicle early Tuesday morning in the Oura area of Albufeira, a popular nightlife district. One victim sustained serious injuries, while three others were treated for minor injuries following the incident.
Australia has suspended applications for its Work and Holiday visa program for Portuguese citizens. The Australian Department of Home Affairs cited high demand as the reason for the pause, which currently affects 23 countries participating in the program.
Portugal has implemented a ban on cash payments or receipts involving amounts of 3,000 euros or more. According to the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal), this restriction applies to both parties in a transaction and cannot be circumvented by splitting payments into smaller installments.
Banco de Portugal is Portugal's central bank, founded in 1846. It is a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the Eurosystem, working alongside the European Central Bank (ECB) to implement monetary policy in the euro area.
Its main functions include supervising banks and financial institutions, ensuring financial stability, managing Portugal's gold and foreign currency reserves, and producing economic research and statistics. It also operates the payment systems infrastructure and issues banknotes.
Banco de Portugal is led by a Governor — currently Mário Centeno (since 2020) — who also sits on the ECB's Governing Council. For residents, the central bank matters because it regulates the banks they use, sets macroprudential rules (such as mortgage lending limits), and provides a complaints mechanism for banking disputes.
The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) is demanding the removal of unemployment social subsidies from the Single Social Benefit (Prestação Social Única or PSU). The union argues that integrating these benefits into the non-contributory PSU reduces the duration and value of support, leaving unemployed workers more unprotected.
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
Starting 23 September, a new law prohibits the use of clothing in public spaces intended to conceal or hinder the display of the face. Violations can result in fines of up to 3,000 euros, while coercing others to cover their faces may lead to imprisonment. The legislation includes specific exceptions for health, safety, weather, and professional requirements.
The Ministry of Finance has rejected reports of an illegal fuel tax, stating that current road network funding complies with European law. Officials clarified that the Road Service Contribution (Contribuição de Serviço Rodoviário or CSR) was abolished in 2022 following a ruling by the European Court of Justice.
The CSR (Contribuição de Serviço Rodoviário) is a tax levied on fuel in Portugal to fund the maintenance and development of the national road network. The government maintains that this charge complies with European law, despite occasional legal challenges regarding its classification and application.
A survey by the Coimbra Academic Association (Associação Académica de Coimbra or AAC) reveals that one in four students has considered dropping out due to high living costs. With average room prices reaching 312 euros and studio rents in Lisbon hitting 1,500 euros, students report that accommodation is the primary obstacle to continuing their education.
The AAC (Associação Académica de Coimbra) is the student union of the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest and most influential student organizations in Portugal. It represents student interests and manages various cultural and social services, often playing a role in national debates regarding student housing and education policy.
Portugal is experiencing an unstable end to August as two Atlantic depressions bring rain, thunderstorms, and stronger winds to the northern and central regions. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has issued weather warnings for 13 districts, with conditions expected to persist until mid-week.
A red warning is the highest alert level issued by Portugal's weather agency, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA), used when conditions pose a very high risk to life and property. Under a red warning authorities may close roads, suspend transport and advise people to avoid coastal and flood‑prone areas, so follow civil protection instructions during the Friday–Saturday storm period.
The trial of two Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) officers from Olhão begins on 8 September at the Faro Court. The officers face charges of kidnapping and homicide related to the death of a Moroccan man in March 2024 following an alleged assault.
The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).
PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.
Welink Energy Portugal 2 UK, the company managing the Solara4 solar plant in Alcoutim, has entered insolvency proceedings. The facility, which is the largest solar power plant in Portugal, has faced persistent operational setbacks since its inauguration in 2021.
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.
Friday 9 October
Budget Proposal Boosts Tenant Deductions as Data Confirms High NHR RetentionThursday 8 October
Immigration Backlog Nears Resolution as Government Outlines Future Income Tax CutsWednesday 7 October
Socialists Avert Budget Crisis While Disputed AIMA Walkout Snarls Immigration ServicesTuesday 6 October
AIMA Staff Call Tuesday Walkout While EasyJet Cancellations Peak and Parliament Expands AccessMonday 5 October
Budget debates loom as severe weather alerts and election voting mobilize the nation
Portugal’s Best Medium-Sized Cities for Expats
ExpatsEverywhere • 57:36 • 6w ago
