Braga, Portugal
Latest news and stories from Braga.
Brazilian nationals now account for one in every ten residents in Braga, reflecting years of sustained migration to the northern city. The demographic growth has contributed to the local economy and boosted student rolls in municipal schools. However, local authorities and service providers report that the population expansion has also added pressure to regional housing availability and public infrastructure.
A mother has been named a formal suspect (arguida) for child abandonment after her three-year-old son was found crying on the stairs of their apartment building in Braga. The child and his 15-year-old sister had been left alone since the weekend, and both were taken to the hospital for evaluation by the Public Security Police (PSP).
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.
The Braga City Council has voted to suspend shared e-scooter services within the municipality. Operators have been given a 60-day deadline to remove all equipment from the city.
The Braga Court has sentenced 28-year-old Matheus Marley Machado to 21 years and six months in prison for the fatal stabbing of Manuel de Oliveira Gonçalves. The court also ordered the defendant's expulsion from Portugal after he completes his sentence and mandated compensation of 227,000 euros to the victim's parents.
Update: Prosecution and family appeal sentence in Odair Moniz case
The Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público) and the family of Odair Moniz have filed appeals against the three-and-a-half-year suspended prison sentence recently handed to police officer Bruno Pinto for homicide.
The Ministério Público (Public Prosecution Service) is Portugal's independent state prosecution body, responsible for leading criminal investigations, bringing charges, and representing the public interest in court.
The MP operates autonomously from the government and the police, though it directs criminal investigations carried out by the Polícia Judiciária, PSP, and GNR. It is led by the Procurador-Geral da República (Attorney General), who is appointed by the President on the government's proposal.
The MP gets involved in high-profile cases including corruption, financial crime, and incidents of potential institutional negligence. It also defends the legality of government actions and protects citizens' fundamental rights through the courts.
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz announced that 100,000 young people have purchased homes in the last 18 months. The minister attributed this to the implementation of municipal property tax (Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis or IMT) and stamp duty exemptions. He emphasized that the policy targets the middle class, with average transaction values around 200,000 euros.
The property transfer tax (Imposto Municipal sobre Transmissões Onerosas de Imóveis), commonly called IMT, is a one‑off tax paid when you buy real estate in Portugal and its rate depends on the property’s price and type. The exemption referenced by the finance minister lowers upfront costs for eligible young buyers, making it an important affordability measure for people trying to enter the housing market.
The Braga Hospital, a surgeon, and an insurance company have been ordered to pay 132,000 euros in damages to the parents of a 33-year-old patient who died following surgery. The court ruled that the surgeon failed to address post-operative complications, specifically an untreated abscess, which constituted medical malpractice.
A fire that broke out on the Sameiro hill in Braga on Monday afternoon has been brought under control after four hours of firefighting efforts. Over 100 personnel, supported by two aircraft and 34 vehicles, were mobilized to combat the flames, which were intensified by strong winds and difficult terrain. No homes were reported to be at risk during the incident.
Portugal has submitted a request to Brussels to reprogram 516 million euros within the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR). The Ministry of Economy, led by Manuel Castro Almeida, stated the adjustment aims to protect funding for schools, health centers, and infrastructure projects like the Braga Bus Rapid Transit. The move follows recent storm damage and seeks to ensure all European Union grants are used before the program's deadline.
Manuel Castro Almeida is Portugal's Minister of Economy and Social Cohesion, a role cited in the article. On 17 February in Sobral de Monte Agraço he said over 4,000 companies had requested storm support totaling nearly €1 billion, figures tied to recent severe weather damage.
The PRR (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência) is Portugal's national program under the EU's NextGenerationEU recovery fund, worth approximately €22.2 billion — roughly €16.6 billion in grants plus €5.6 billion in loans. Approved in 2021, it funds reforms and investments across housing, digital transition, climate action, healthcare, and public administration.
Payments from the European Commission are tied to specific milestones and targets. Missed deadlines or incomplete reforms can delay disbursements, affecting public works, infrastructure projects, and social programs that depend on PRR funding.
The PRR is one of the largest investment programs in Portugal's recent history and touches areas from affordable housing construction to hospital modernization, school renovation, and green energy transition. Progress is monitored by the European Commission through regular reviews.
