Latest news and stories about government policy in Beja, Portugal for expats and residents.
PCP leader Paulo Raimundo criticises Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Education Minister Fernando Alexandre over the ongoing national exam grading scandal, citing a lack of accountability and unresolved issues for thousands of students.
Odemira City Council is investigating the legality of construction works at a private property owned by Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves, following reports of potential irregularities and questions regarding the contractor's previous professional ties.
PCP leader Paulo Raimundo has urged the government to withdraw its labour reform proposal to prevent a general strike, warning that the administration's current stance will lead to significant political backlash.
Chega criticised the refusal of its request for an extraordinary meeting. The PS responded in kind, stating that the Odemira municipality will treat Luís Neves as it would any other citizen.
The contractor from Construbarcelos who carried out work for the PJ and at Luís Neves' property in Odemira revealed that the seized trailer was moved to his warehouse without any documentation. João Santos Carvalho confirmed that he offered to store the trailer to help the PJ, stating that no formal paperwork was exchanged. He also addressed the construction of a pool at the property of the current Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, noting that it was a 'sunken tank' and that payments were made by Neves' wife. Luís Neves has denied any favouritism regarding the contracts awarded to Construbarcelos during his time as National Director of the PJ, claiming the company's share of contracts was minimal.
In Wednesday's press conference, Luís Neves announced he would request an urgent meeting. The same request had already been made by Chega and refused by the Mayor.
The Minister of Internal Administration held a press conference this Wednesday to provide explanations regarding the controversies surrounding him.
The Minister of Internal Administration admits he authorised the transfer of the trailer to Barcelos at the suggestion of the PJ's financial director. He will request a meeting with the Odemira City Council to regularise the situation regarding the swimming pool at his home.
The Minister of Internal Administration held a press conference this Wednesday to provide explanations regarding the controversies surrounding him.
The president of the Liberal Initiative stated this Wednesday, July 29, that Luís Neves no longer has the political trust or authority to serve as Minister of Internal Administration and that she will communicate this to the President of the Republic. This position was conveyed by Mariana Leitão to journalists at Parliament, shortly after a press conference held by the minister. The liberal leader described the press conference as 'surreal' and concluded that the minister is politically unfit to remain in office. She argued that he lacks the suitability, authority, trust, and responsibility required for the role, noting that the situation is serious and that the party has requested an urgent audience with the President of the Republic. During his press conference, Luís Neves addressed the hiring of a contractor who had worked for the Judiciary Police to perform renovations on his family property in Odemira, the discovery of chemical drums used in drug manufacturing at that contractor's facilities, and failures in submitting income declarations to the Constitutional Court. Despite admitting errors, Neves refused to resign, stating he remains 'cohesive, empowered, and motivated'. Mariana Leitão criticized the Government and the PSD for being 'completely detached from reality', while other political figures, such as Ventura and Carneiro, also expressed concerns regarding the minister's explanations and called for further parliamentary scrutiny.
Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves held a press conference to address controversies surrounding his property in Odemira and his past management as national director of the Judicial Police. Neves denied any wrongdoing, conflicts of interest, or favouritism towards contractors, stating that his decisions were based on good management and cost-saving for the state. He maintained that he was unaware the property was in a protected area and expressed his commitment to continuing in his ministerial role.
The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, will hold a press conference this Wednesday afternoon, July 29, at 18:00. The official is expected to provide the promised clarifications regarding the various controversies in which he has been involved. In recent days, the minister has repeatedly stated he would provide all necessary explanations. Last Saturday, Luís Neves said he was “absolutely calm” and promised to explain the matter “point by point” at the “appropriate time.” Last week, he had already said the same, guaranteeing that if he felt he did not have the conditions to remain in office, he “would not be here doing my job.” Before the press conference, a meeting will take place at 17:00 at São Bento between the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General of the PS, specifically regarding these controversies. This meeting, held at the Prime Minister's official residence, was requested by PS leader José Luís Carneiro, who said on Tuesday he wanted to hear “clarifications on all the facts” from Luís Montenegro involving the minister. “Depending on those clarifications, I will make a decision on conveying the PS's position to the Prime Minister,” he added. Luís Neves, who served as national director of the PJ between 2018 and 2026, has been embroiled in a controversy related to construction work carried out on his property in Odemira by the company Construbarcelos—which was previously responsible for work at the PJ during his tenure as director—and a trailer seized in a drug trafficking case that was later found at the company's facilities.
The decision comes after the Minister of Internal Administration received the green light from Luís Montenegro to speak about the cases involving him.
Luís Neves did not submit any declarations regarding bank accounts, land, vehicles, financial investments, or income between 2018 and 2024, according to Nascer do Sol and TVI. The current Minister of Internal Administration was required to submit these declarations within 60 days of taking office as National Director of the Judiciary Police in June 2018. The Constitutional Court stated there are no records of income, interest, or asset declarations for Luís Neves during that period. The first declaration was only filed in 2024 after his reappointment. The minister also omitted his wife's company while serving as PJ director. Chega leader André Ventura announced a parliamentary inquiry into Neves's tenure at the PJ, to which the minister responded that he is fully available to provide clarifications. Neves is also embroiled in controversy regarding construction work on his property in Odemira by a company that previously held contracts with the PJ, and the discovery of a trailer seized in a drug trafficking case at that same company's premises.
More than 5.3 million euros in renovation projects for health centres and extensions in four Alentejo municipalities may not be completed on time.
Without providing a date, the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, reiterated this Friday, July 24, that at the “appropriate moment” he will provide all clarifications regarding the controversies involving his property in Odemira and a trailer, seized during an anti-drug trafficking operation, which was found at the facilities of the company Construbarcelos, owned by his contractor friend João Carvalho. Neves asked for respect for his work at the ministry, emphasizing his focus on combating forest fires, and welcomed the Chega party's initiative to launch a parliamentary inquiry into his previous tenure as head of the Judicial Police. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Judicial Police found no official documentation authorizing the transfer of the seized trailer to the contractor's company, and the Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an independent inquiry into the matter.
Benfica lost 2-1 away to the Swiss side. The second leg is scheduled for July 30th. Additionally, Trump will impose new tariffs on 60 countries due to suspicions of slave labour practices.
The assets of the Minister of Internal Administration in Odemira are less modest than previously thought
With the PJ and the Public Prosecutor's Office investigating the case of the Construbarcelos trailer — the company that carried out work on his property —, the minister guarantees that he does not intend to leave his post.
The investigation opened by the Attorney General's Office into a trailer loaded with drug-manufacturing materials—handed over by the PJ to the contractor renovating Luís Neves's estate—has significantly narrowed the path for the Minister of Internal Administration. His continued tenure now requires both factual explanations and political clarification. The case involves allegations of potential abuse of power and misappropriation, as the contractor, a friend of Neves, was also awarded multiple contracts with the Judiciary Police. Questions remain regarding potential conflicts of interest, the legitimacy of the construction work, and the circumstances under which seized evidence was transferred to the contractor's facility.
The Minister of Internal Administration did not respond to questions regarding the controversy surrounding him, stating that he is gathering the documents he considers important regarding the construction work on his house in Odemira.
Luís Neves said he is “very focused and motivated” to work at this moment.
The controversy regarding construction work at Luís Neves' house in Odemira continues, and Pedro Tadeu believes that the explanations from the Minister of Internal Administration “have not been entirely convincing”.
Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves will not publicly respond to the Judiciary Police (PJ) statement regarding a trailer seized in a drug trafficking operation that was found at the premises of contractor João Santos Carvalho, who performed work on a house owned by Neves in Odemira. However, sources indicate the minister is unhappy with the statement, especially as he served as the national director of the PJ until earlier this year. The minister maintains that the PJ was fully aware of the trailer's location and that its transfer to the contractor's company was documented and lawful. The opposition is questioning Neves's position in government following reports of his ties to the contractor, though Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has expressed full confidence in him.
Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, is facing mounting political pressure after fresh media reports linked the contractor carrying out work at his property in Odemira to a trailer The post Minister under fresh pressure as seized drug trailer now linked to private contractor appeared first on Portugal Resident.
A controversy has emerged involving the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, following reports that he hired a contractor, João dos Santos Carvalho—a personal acquaintance—to perform renovations on his private property in Odemira. The contractor had previously been awarded significant contracts by the Judiciary Police (PJ) during Neves's tenure as its national director. Investigations have since revealed discrepancies regarding building permits for the property, the nature of the construction work, and the minister's failure to initially declare his wife's company, Alcampos, which managed the property's finances. While Neves denies any wrongdoing or preferential treatment, local authorities are now investigating the legality of the construction, and questions remain regarding payment documentation and transparency filings.
The controversy began last Thursday when the newspaper Sol revealed that the Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, awarded the renovation works of a family property in Odemira to the company Construbarcelos, owned by João dos Santos Carvalho. This is the same contractor that Neves had already hired for works at the Judiciary Police (PJ) when...
Luís Neves only declared his wife's firm to the Transparency Entity at the end of May this year, when he was already a minister.
The leader of Chega was on CMTV this Wednesday for an exclusive interview.
