Viseu, Portugal
Latest news and stories from Viseu.
Starting September 1, public transport will be free for all residents of the Viseu municipality. Mayor João Azevedo announced the measure as a major investment in local mobility, covering the city's urban mobility network and specific regional lines. The initiative aims to encourage the use of public transit among the local population.
President of the Republic António José Seguro has urged for the continuity of public policies across different government administrations to ensure national stability. Speaking at the São Mateus Fair in Viseu, he cited the tourism sector as a successful example of how long-term consistency benefits the country. Seguro emphasized that despite political changes, maintaining stable strategies remains a priority for national development.
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.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro told the Social Democratic Youth (Juventude Social Democrata or JSD) congress in Viseu that there is no funding to increase minimum pensions or lower the retirement age. Montenegro criticized such proposals as irresponsible, arguing they would threaten the sustainability of the Social Security system. During the same event, João Pedro Luís was elected as the new president of the JSD.
Update: Chega leader slams government strategy on labour reform
André Ventura has criticized Prime Minister Luís Montenegro for publicly rejecting Chega's demands for labour law reform while remaining open to negotiations. Ventura described this approach as a 'ludicrous strategy' and warned that if the government refuses to address key issues like the retirement age, there will be little room for productive discussion.
Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves (born February 16, 1973, in Porto) is a Portuguese lawyer and center‑right politician who has served as Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2, 2024. A long‑time member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he is the leading figure of the post‑Troika generation of Portuguese conservatives. Montenegro was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2002 for the Aveiro district and remained an MP for 16 years, becoming PSD parliamentary leader from 2011 to 2017 during the bailout and austerity period under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. He was a prominent defender of strict austerity measures, arguing in 2014 that “the life of the people is no better, but the life of the country is a lot better,” a phrase that has followed his public image since. After an unsuccessful leadership bid against Rui Rio in 2020, Montenegro won the PSD leadership in 2022. He then forged the centre‑right Democratic Alliance (PSD–CDS‑PP and allies), which won a plurality of seats in the 2024 legislative election. Refusing to partner with the far‑right Chega, which he has called “often xenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic,” he formed a minority government as head of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 2, 2024. His first government fell in March 2025 after a no‑confidence vote linked to a conflict‑of‑interest affair, but fresh elections saw the Democratic Alliance increase its seat share, allowing Montenegro to return as prime minister leading the XXV Constitutional Government. His importance to Portugal lies in attempting to re‑center the traditional centre‑right after the crisis years, defending liberal‑conservative economics and EU alignment while drawing a sharp line against formal cooperation with the radical right, thus shaping how Portuguese democracy manages its new multi‑party era.
The JSD (Juventude Social Democrata) is the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD). It operates as an autonomous political organization that represents the interests of young people within the party and advocates for specific youth-oriented policies.
André Ventura, born January 15, 1983, is a lawyer, academic, and Portugal's most prominent far-right leader. He founded Chega ("Enough") in 2019 after his PSD mayoral campaign attacked the Romani community. Chega surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest party and making Ventura Leader of the Opposition.
His platform emphasizes immigration restrictions, law-and-order policies, constitutional reform, and contains inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric that has triggered multiple discrimination convictions and investigations. Politically classified as far-right by international media, Ventura cultivates alliances with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal.
The Viseu City Council has unanimously approved a measure to make public transport free for all residents. The initiative, which fulfills an election promise by João Azevedo, will cost approximately one million euros and aims to support local families while addressing environmental goals. The service is expected to become free in the coming weeks following final regulatory reviews.
At the 25th National Congress of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) in Viseu, leader José Luís Carneiro pledged to lead a “responsible opposition” to the government. Carneiro challenged the Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democrática or AD) to choose between moderate cooperation with the PS or alignment with the far-right party Chega. He also warned that the PS would reject any labor reforms that undermine workers' rights.
Socialist Party (PS)
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.
The Democratic Alliance (Aliança Democrática, AD) is a center-right coalition primarily composed of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 89 seats and the CDS–People's Party (CDS-PP) with 2 seats. Together, they form the current minority government under Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
The PSD, despite its name, occupies the center-right of Portugal's political spectrum and has been one of Portugal's two dominant parties since 1974, having formed nine governments including four with absolute majorities. The CDS-PP is a smaller Christian democratic party that has historically been the PSD's coalition partner.
The AD coalition governs without a parliamentary majority, requiring case-by-case support from opposition parties to pass legislation. The coalition has imposed a cordon sanitaire against Chega, refusing formal cooperation with the far-right despite its parliamentary strength, which means it must negotiate with the PS or smaller parties to advance its legislative agenda.
At the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) congress in Viseu, leader José Luís Carneiro proposed 0% value-added tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado or IVA) on essential food and a reduction to 13% for fuel. Meanwhile, former President Aníbal Cavaco Silva criticized the theatrical discourse of Chega and urged Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to maintain distance from the party. Tax-paying residents should note these proposals aim to address the rising cost of living linked to international conflicts.
Update: Carlos César re-elected PS president amid internal list challenge
Carlos César was re-elected as president of the PS with 89.9% of the vote as the congress continued in Viseu. While the party leadership remains stable, former MP Ricardo Gonçalves presented an alternative list for the National Commission (Comissão Nacional), challenging the use of single lists. Party members should note that the meeting concludes on Sunday with the final election of national bodies.
Socialist Party (PS)
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.
Aníbal Cavaco Silva is a former Prime Minister (1985–1995) and former President of Portugal (2006–2016) from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD). He led the country during its early years in the European Union and is known for his focus on economic stability and modernization. As a senior political figure, he remains influential and recently criticized the lack of credibility in newer political movements like Chega.
Carlos César is the President of the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) and a candidate for re-election to the position. He was the President of the Regional Government of the Azores (Governo Regional dos Açores) for 16 years between 1996 and 2012. Those following political news should note that while the Secretary-General leads the party, the President acts as a senior representative and moderator.
The PS Congress meets this weekend in Viseu to refine its opposition strategy. José Luís Carneiro arrives at the major meeting re-elected and without declared internal opposition, but with several voices pointing to the need to sharpen their focus.
