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  2. Santarém District
  3. Santarém

Santarém

Santarém, Portugal

Latest news and stories from Santarém.

Municipalities in Santarém

Abrantes(150)Alcanena(17)Almeirim(27)Alpiarça(9)Benavente(64)Cartaxo(30)Chamusca(18)Constância(47)Coruche(36)Entroncamento(31)Ferreira do Zêzere(27)Golegã(13)Mação(18)Ourém(277)Rio Maior(46)Salvaterra de Magos(23)Santarém(258)Sardoal(5)Tomar(123)Torres Novas(70)Vila Nova da Barquinha(47)
Abrantes(150)Alcanena(17)Almeirim(27)Alpiarça(9)Benavente(64)Cartaxo(30)Chamusca(18)Constância(47)Coruche(36)Entroncamento(31)Ferreira do Zêzere(27)Golegã(13)Mação(18)Ourém(277)Rio Maior(46)Salvaterra de Magos(23)Santarém(258)Sardoal(5)Tomar(123)Torres Novas(70)Vila Nova da Barquinha(47)







  • Abrantes(150)
  • Alcanena(17)
  • Almeirim(27)
  • Alpiarça(9)
  • Benavente(64)
  • Cartaxo(30)
  • Chamusca(18)
  • Constância(47)
  • Coruche(36)
  • Entroncamento(31)
  • Ferreira do Zêzere(27)
  • Golegã(13)
  • Mação(18)
  • Ourém(277)
  • Rio Maior(46)
  • Salvaterra de Magos(23)
  • Santarém(258)
  • Sardoal(5)
  • Tomar(123)
  • Torres Novas(70)
  • Vila Nova da Barquinha(47)

Portugal
  • 1755:The Lisbon earthquake of 1755
    At about 9.40 on the morning of All Saints' Day, with many people at Mass, a massive earthquake devastates Lisbon. Roughly 45 minutes to an hour later a tsunami surges up the Tagus into the lower town, and fires burn for days; modern estimates of the dead in Lisbon alone run from about 10,000 to 40,000.
    Read moreEarthquake and Enlightenment, 1750–1807
  • 2011: The American surfer Garrett McNamara rides a wave of about 23.8 metres (78 feet) off Praia do Norte in Nazaré, a Guinness world record that put the fishing town's giant winter swells, funnelled by the Nazaré Canyon, on the global surfing map.
Elsewhere
  • 1993: The Maastricht Treaty, signed in the Dutch city in February 1992, enters into force, creating the European Union and laying the foundations for European citizenship and the single currency.
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Featured stories

Judiciary Police Arrest Couple for Defrauding Elderly Man

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+2 more

The Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) arrested a couple suspected of scamming a 90-year-old man out of nearly €400,000 between 2022 and 2026. Investigators in Leiria reported that the suspects, aged 38 and 43, deceived the victim through fictitious car and property transactions in Entroncamento and Santarém. The suspects routed payments through multiple bank accounts to launder the stolen funds before being detained for formal court questioning.

Polícia Judiciária

The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. ​ Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. ​ Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.

4 sources →11 Oct
Judiciary Police Arrest Couple for Defrauding Elderly Man

Tragedy in Santarém as father and daughter die

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+1 more

A 33-year-old man and his four-year-old daughter died early Sunday after falling from the eighth floor of a building in Santarém. Authorities, including the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), confirmed the man had a history of domestic violence. The incident reportedly followed a domestic dispute.

PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública)

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.

Polícia Judiciária

The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. ​ Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. ​ Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.

5 sources →21 Jun
Tragedy in Santarém as father and daughter die

INEM investigates fatal delay in emergency medical response

📍 Santarém🩺 Health⚖️ Legal#emergency-services+2 more

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) is investigating the death of a 73-year-old woman in Santarém after a reported 29-minute delay in emergency assistance. Despite the patient suffering from breathing difficulties, the family was allegedly advised to transport her to the hospital themselves. The family has since initiated legal action regarding the incident.

Minimum services (serviços mínimos) are the legally required basic services that must be maintained during a strike to protect public safety—in healthcare this typically covers emergency care, critical ambulance coverage and intensive care. They matter because the INEM workers' committee admitted that late or unclear communication about which teams would be available during the end-of-2024 strike may have reduced operational capacity and confused patients; as an expat, expect limited non-urgent care during strikes and check official updates or call 112 for true emergencies.

3 sources →2 Jun
INEM investigates fatal delay in emergency medical response

President Seguro calls for balanced labour deal and military modernization

📍 Santarém🏛️ Government💼 Work#labour-law+2 more

President António José Seguro expressed hope for a balanced agreement on labour legislation (legislação laboral) between the government and social partners. Speaking in Santarém, the President also advocated for the modernization of the Armed Forces (Forças Armadas) to meet international commitments, provided it does not compromise social welfare spending. Workers should note that the government has proposed extending the duration of certain employment contracts as part of the negotiations.

Update: Protests and political opposition mount against new labour package

Hundreds of protesters, led by the Interjovem wing of the CGTP union, marched in Lisbon to oppose the government's proposed labour changes. Former Minister of Labour Ana Mendes Godinho also called for the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) to be uncompromising against the package, which she described as an attack on workers.

António José Seguro
  • President of Portugal (since March 9, 2026)
  • Party: Independent. Former leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Partido Socialista
  • Center-left

António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and the current President of the Portuguese Republic, inaugurated on March 9, 2026 after winning the two-round presidential election in January–February 2026.

Career: He led Socialist Youth (1990–1994), served as MEP (1999–2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001–2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004–2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and a decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025 and won the presidency in February 2026.

Political philosophy: Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, advocating financial responsibility while opposing austerity. As President, he has emphasized institutional trust, efficient governance, and a collaborative relationship with the government while maintaining rigorous constitutional oversight.

A banked hours scheme (banco de horas) is a flexible working time arrangement under Portuguese labor law that allows employees to accumulate overtime hours and use them later as time off, rather than receiving immediate overtime pay.

Under the Portuguese Labour Code, banked hours can be established through collective agreements or, in some cases, individual agreements. The scheme allows employers to vary working hours based on demand — requiring longer hours during peak periods and compensating with shorter hours or days off later.

Banked hours schemes are a frequent topic in labor reform negotiations, with unions (particularly CGTP) pushing for tighter limits and greater worker protections, while employers argue for more flexibility. Proposed reforms have included extending eligibility to parents of young children and adjusting the cap on banked hours.

What is the PS political party?

Socialist Party (PS)

  • Leader: José Luís Carneiro (since June 2025)
  • Ideology: Center-left, Social democracy, pro-Europeanism

Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. ​ The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.

13 sources →28 Mar
President Seguro calls for balanced labour deal and military modernization

Recent stories

Urbisjovem requests meeting with Seguro to resolve crisis

📍 Santarém🏠 Property🏛️ Government#housing+2 more

Created in March, Urbisjovem aims to build affordable housing in municipalities from the north to the south of the country. It is already negotiating land in Santarém for 44 units and in Almeirim.

observador.pt28 Oct
Urbisjovem requests meeting with Seguro to resolve crisis

Lezíria do Tejo wants a 1,500-hectare business platform in Santarém

📍 Santarém💶 Finance🏛️ Government#investment+1 more

The platform will be developed in two phases, with an initial area of approximately 550 hectares designated for the first set of businesses and infrastructure.

cmjornal.pt28 Oct
Lezíria do Tejo wants a 1,500-hectare business platform in Santarém

Machinery during maneuvers causes gas leak in Santarém

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🚇 Infrastructure#emergency-services+1 more

At the scene, personnel from both Santarém fire departments were present, totaling two vehicles and six operators, alongside the PSP and the utility company.

cmjornal.pt26 Oct
Machinery during maneuvers causes gas leak in Santarém

Tavern dedicated to snacks is a novelty at the National Gastronomy Festival in Santarém

📍 Santarém🏖️ Daily Life🎭 Culture#gastronomy+1 more

From October 22nd to November 1st, at the Casa do Campino in Santarém, Portuguese cuisine is celebrated at the 45th edition of the National Gastronomy Festival. The initiative brings together 12 restaurants from various regions of the country and debuts the new “Taberna da Casa”, dedicated to snacks.

expresso.pt23 Oct
Tavern dedicated to snacks is a novelty at the National Gastronomy Festival in Santarém

Portugal at the table at the Santarem Gastronomy Festival

📍 Santarém🏖️ Daily Life🎭 Culture#gastronomy+2 more

The country's culinary traditions are showcased at the annual gastronomy event held in Santarem.

O MiranteO Mirante22 Oct
Portugal at the table at the Santarem Gastronomy Festival

Portugal at the table at the Santarém Gastronomy Festival

📍 Santarém🏖️ Daily Life🎭 Culture#gastronomy+2 more

A celebration of Portuguese culinary traditions held at the annual Gastronomy Festival in Santarém.

O MiranteO Mirante22 Oct
Portugal at the table at the Santarém Gastronomy Festival

Man dies after tractor veers off road in Santarém

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+1 more

The alert for the accident resulting from a tractor veering off the road was given at 17:46. Firefighters, GNR officers, and six vehicles were at the scene.

observador.pt21 Oct
Man dies after tractor veers off road in Santarém

Santarém National Gastronomy Festival begins tomorrow

📍 Santarém🎭 Culture🏖️ Daily Life#gastronomy+2 more

Santarém gathers the flavours and traditions of Portugal once again for the 45th edition of the festival, featuring music and entertainment over 11 days.

cmjornal.pt21 Oct
Santarém National Gastronomy Festival begins tomorrow

Network put on trial for importing cocaine from the Dominican Republic

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+1 more

The cocaine was hidden inside animal hides. The operation involved the Judicial Police and foreign authorities.

cmjornal.pt21 Oct
Network put on trial for importing cocaine from the Dominican Republic

Scooter rider dies in collision with van in Santarém

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal#public-safety+1 more

The causes of the accident are being investigated by the Public Security Police (PSP).

cmjornal.pt20 Oct
Scooter rider dies in collision with van in Santarém

Youths filmed stealing electric motorbike in Santarém

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+2 more

The situation was reported by the vehicle's owner, who posted footage captured by her home's video surveillance system on social media.

cmjornal.pt19 Oct
Youths filmed stealing electric motorbike in Santarém

Stabbed association users and staff during a psychotic episode

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal#crime-report

26-year-old defendant charged with four counts of homicide and six counts of bodily harm.

cmjornal.pt19 Oct
Stabbed association users and staff during a psychotic episode

Chega questions the choice of Tancos instead of Beja for new pilot school as part of the TAP privatisation process

📍 Santarém🏛️ Government💶 Finance#government-policy+1 more

On Wednesday, the government selected Lufthansa for the partial privatisation of the airline TAP.

cmjornal.pt16 Oct
Chega questions the choice of Tancos instead of Beja for new pilot school as part of the TAP privatisation process

"Lies and more lies": Nuno Homem de Sá reacts after first domestic violence trial session

📍 Santarém🎭 Culture⚖️ Legal#entertainment+1 more

The actor declares himself “innocent” upon leaving the Santarém Court.

cmjornal.pt15 Oct
"Lies and more lies": Nuno Homem de Sá reacts after first domestic violence trial session

Santarém has secured a project that will serve the world

📍 Santarém🧭 Travel💶 Finance#tourism+1 more

Santarém has won the Viva Mundo project, a 450-million-euro investment for a football-themed park, officially classified as a Project of National Interest (PIN). Expected to create up to 1,000 jobs and attract 1.5 million visitors annually, the project is set to open during the 2030 World Cup, leveraging Santarém's central location to boost the regional economy and international profile.

dn.pt13 Oct
Santarém has secured a project that will serve the world

Nuno Homem de Sá faces new accusation and risks prison time

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🎭 Culture#entertainment+3 more

The actor has already been given suspended prison sentences in two previous cases, making the upcoming trial in Santarém, which begins on Thursday, decisive.

cmjornal.pt12 Oct
Nuno Homem de Sá faces new accusation and risks prison time

BYD accelerates in Portugal with technology and a new generation of cars

📍 Santarém🏖️ Daily Life💶 Finance#electric-vehicles+1 more

BYD is expanding its presence in the Portuguese market by focusing on advanced technology and launching a new lineup of vehicles.

O MiranteO Mirante12 Oct
BYD accelerates in Portugal with technology and a new generation of cars

Massive destruction of books to feed artificial intelligence has arrived in Portugal

📍 Santarém💡 Technology⚖️ Legal#ai-regulation+2 more

The unauthorised use of copyrighted books to train AI models is now a growing concern and reality within the Portuguese literary and technological landscape.

Jornal de NotíciasJornal de Notícias12 Oct
Massive destruction of books to feed artificial intelligence has arrived in Portugal

Nuno Homem de Sá faces new accusation and risks prison time

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🎭 Culture#celebrity+2 more

The actor has already received suspended prison sentences in two previous cases, making the Santarém trial, which begins on Thursday, a decisive one.

cmjornal.pt12 Oct
Nuno Homem de Sá faces new accusation and risks prison time

Judiciary Police arrest couple suspected of defrauding elderly man out of 400,000 euros

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🏖️ Daily Life#crime-report+2 more

The detainees, aged 38 and 43, have no defined profession or occupation and have criminal records for various offences.

cmjornal.pt11 Oct
Judiciary Police arrest couple suspected of defrauding elderly man out of 400,000 euros

Banco de Fomento approves support for a 100-million euro project for baby carrot production in Santarém

📍 Santarém💶 Finance💼 Work#investment+1 more

The project by American company Fresh 52 to install a baby carrot production unit in Santarém, involving a 100-million euro investment, has received approval for a financing tranche from the Banco Português de Fomento (BPF). The approval of the funding was announced by the Mayor of Santarém, João Teixeira Leite, who classified it as...

eco.sapo.pt7 Oct
Banco de Fomento approves support for a 100-million euro project for baby carrot production in Santarém

A book within another book

📍 Santarém📜 History🎭 Culture#literature+1 more

In 'Viagens', Almeida Garrett (1799-1854) translated the modernity of European narrative into Portuguese. His journey did not go beyond Santarém, but the style remains bold today and deserves attention.

cmjornal.pt4 Oct
A book within another book

Serious accident leaves four injured and forces helicopter landing on the Salgueiro Maia Bridge

📍 Santarém⚖️ Legal🩺 Health#emergency-services+1 more

Three of the victims were admitted to Santarém Hospital - the seriously injured person, who was transported by ambulance after being stabilised by the INEM, and two of the lightly injured.

cmjornal.pt2 Oct
Serious accident leaves four injured and forces helicopter landing on the Salgueiro Maia Bridge

PS wants school plan in Santarém. PSD says it already exists

📍 Santarém🎓 Education🏛️ Government#education-quality

PS councillors in the Santarém City Council claim to have received several reports of maintenance and operational issues in schools under municipal management, some of which have been ongoing for years.

observador.pt1 Oct
PS wants school plan in Santarém. PSD says it already exists

Blood donors federation warns of problems in Santarém

📍 Santarém🩺 Health🏛️ Government#healthcare+2 more

In 2024 and 2025, the number of donations fell, and the situation remains the same this year. The shortage of healthcare professionals for collection may be associated with the decline in donations.

observador.pt30 Sept
Blood donors federation warns of problems in Santarém

Blood donor federation warns of blood reserve shortages at Santarém Hospital

📍 Santarém🩺 Health⚖️ Legal#patient-care+2 more

According to the official, the drop in reserves is not an isolated incident, but rather a trend that has been worsening in recent years, with a continuous reduction in the number of donations.

cmjornal.pt30 Sept
Blood donor federation warns of blood reserve shortages at Santarém Hospital

PCP contests lack of solutions for traffic at the station

📍 Santarém🚇 Infrastructure🏛️ Government#public-transport+2 more

The Communist Party's criticisms come at a time when Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) is carrying out roadworks on the National Road 114 (EN114), which has been causing severe traffic disruptions.

observador.pt28 Sept
PCP contests lack of solutions for traffic at the station

Reports on animal rights and welfare win awards for RTP

📍 Santarém🎭 Culture⚖️ Legal#animal-welfare+1 more

RTP was the big winner of the journalism awards for animal rights and welfare, an initiative by the NGO Frente Animal.

rtp.pt26 Sept
Reports on animal rights and welfare win awards for RTP

The Living Roots of Ribatejo: festival in Santarém celebrates Ribatejo gastronomy and culture

📍 Santarém🎭 Culture🏖️ Daily Life#entertainment

Twenty chefs will “cook” the Ribatejo at the festival guided by Rodrigo Castelo — always rural, even if he has moved to the city. On September 25th and 26th, at Portas do Sol.

publico.pt23 Sept

Santarém closes semester with a positive balance of 366 thousand euros

📍 Santarém🏛️ Government💶 Finance#economic-indicator+1 more

Positive result following revenues of 34 million euros, expenses of 33.6 million, and a debt increase of 1.7 million due to 'short-term liabilities'. The opposition is concerned about the execution.

observador.pt21 Sept
Santarém closes semester with a positive balance of 366 thousand euros

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