Sunday, 4 October 2026

Minister of Justice Rita Alarcão Júdice is reviewing the decision to terminate the Special Security Programme for whistleblower Rui Pinto. The protection is currently set to end on October 10, and Júdice has promised a response before that date. Pinto has expressed concerns for his safety and has reportedly moved to an undisclosed location.

Update: Justice Minister faces pressure over Rui Pinto protection

Minister of Justice Rita Alarcão Júdice confirmed she is carefully analyzing appeals to reverse the termination of Rui Pinto's security program. The decision has drawn criticism from the Frente Cívica, which characterized the move as potentially retaliatory, while the political party Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP) has formally requested urgent explanations from the government.

More than 134,000 Brazilian citizens residing in Portugal are eligible to vote in this Sunday's presidential election. Polling stations across the country, including in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for mandatory voting. Voters are encouraged to verify their polling location using the E-Título app.

Filipa Urbano Calvão, president of the Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas or TdC), has warned she may appeal to the Constitutional Court regarding proposed reforms to the institution. Calvão argues that certain provisions in the government's draft law are unconstitutional and should be subject to rigorous legal scrutiny. The reform, approved by the Council of Ministers in April, remains under parliamentary discussion.

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) has seized a manuscript from a prisoner at the Caldas da Rainha prison, which investigators link to the Brazilian criminal organization known as the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital or PCC). The document contains strict disciplinary instructions for members, including orders to silence witnesses and control family members. Experts emphasize that inter-police cooperation is vital to monitoring the group's activities in Portugal.

A 28-year-old man died following a fire in a residential building in the historic centre of Viseu on Friday night. Five others, including two officers from the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP), sustained minor injuries during the incident. The PJ is currently investigating the cause of the blaze.

A strike by EasyJet cabin crew has resulted in the cancellation of approximately 90% of the airline's flights in Portugal. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) reports total participation in the walkout, which is scheduled to continue until Tuesday. The union is demanding improvements to roster stability, seniority-based pay progression, and company agreement negotiations.

Gulf Med Aviation Services, the company responsible for medical emergency air transport, has warned that rising fuel prices threaten the sustainability of its operations. The company is requesting inclusion in government public support schemes, noting that aviation fuel costs have risen by approximately 80% since July 2025.

New government regulations that came into force this Saturday allow fuel stations to store a larger quantity of liquefied petroleum gas (Gás de Petróleo Liquefeito or GPL) cylinders without requiring additional licensing. The measure aims to reinforce the availability of domestic gas for consumers across the country.

Portugal recorded the highest annual increase in house prices within the European Union during the second quarter of 2026, with a 16.5% rise. According to Eurostat figures, this growth significantly outpaced the 3.2% inflation rate, with Portugal, Bulgaria, and Spain leading the upward trend while other nations like France and Finland saw declines.