Tuesday, 15 September 2026

The World Health Organization has confirmed that Portugal recorded 66 cases of the mpox 1b subvariant over the last six weeks. Health authorities also identified community transmission of the virus, marking the highest number of reported cases among European countries.

The telecommunications operator MEO confirmed it was the target of a mass cyberattack this Monday, which caused disruptions to internet and mobile network services across the country. The company stated that it quickly controlled the situation and guaranteed that no customer data was accessed during the intrusion.

Update: MEO confirms DDoS attack caused service outages

Technical analysis by MEO teams confirmed that the service disruptions were caused by a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The operator reported the incident to the National Cybersecurity Centre (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança or CNCS) and clarified that BGP routing instability was a consequence of the attack.

A report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) indicates that Portugal has experienced a decline in democratic performance. The study highlights six significant setbacks in democratic indicators between 2020 and 2025, particularly regarding freedom of expression.

The Santo António Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) in Porto has suspended all overtime orthopaedic and neurosurgery operations. The decision follows a change in how the hospital calculates payments for additional surgical activity, which has led to protests from medical staff and impacts on patient waiting lists.

The Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional or TC) has received a formal request to dissolve the Chega party. Judge Maria Benedita Urbano stated that while the court has the authority to declare a party's extinction, it can only act upon a request from the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público). She also noted the significant legal difficulty in determining if a political movement qualifies as fascist.

The National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) has prohibited the export of 51 different medicines. The list includes several drugs used for cancer treatments, as authorities move to prevent potential supply shortages in the domestic market.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) has opened an inquiry into the national director of the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), Carlos Cabreiro, following a complaint by a police coordinator. The investigation focuses on allegations of abuse of power and false testimony regarding the handling of wiretaps during the high-profile Rui Pinto trial. The PJ has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

President of the Republic António José Seguro will travel to the Vatican next week for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, followed by a visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg to mark the 50th anniversary of Portugal's accession. The President has formally invited the Pope to visit Portugal in 2027.

The Portuguese retail group Jerónimo Martins, owner of the Biedronka supermarket chain in Poland, has been fined 121 million euros by the Polish competition regulator, UOKiK. The regulator alleges the company engaged in anti-competitive practices by colluding with transport firms to suppress driver wages. The company denies the allegations and plans to contest the decision in court.

The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) has issued a warning regarding poor air quality caused by suspended dust from North Africa. The health authority recommends that the general population avoid outdoor activities and that vulnerable individuals remain indoors until the air mass clears.

The Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) of Castelo Branco has confirmed the presence of the Aedes albopictus mosquito, a known vector for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. While no infected mosquitoes have been detected in Portugal, health authorities have implemented an enhanced monitoring plan and requested public cooperation to manage the risk.

The consumer protection association Deco Proteste warns that recent reductions in monthly tax withholdings (retenções na fonte) may lead to smaller refunds or unexpected tax bills for many taxpayers when filing their annual income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares or IRS) returns. The association notes that lower monthly deductions do not equate to a lower total tax burden, potentially causing financial adjustments for households in 2027.

A new study by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation (Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos) analyzing 507 ministers since 1976 shows that while political parties remain central to recruitment, they increasingly favor candidates with technical expertise. The research indicates that independent or semi-independent ministers tend to remain in office longer than those strictly affiliated with parties. Experts suggest this hybrid model of political-specialist leadership has become the dominant standard in Portuguese government.

Research covering the last five decades reveals that women have held only 15% of ministerial positions in Portugal since 1976. The study, coordinated by António Costa Pinto and Marcelo Camerlo, notes that female ministers often face higher technical requirements to access power compared to their male counterparts. Additionally, women are frequently overqualified for their roles yet remain underrepresented in the most central government portfolios.