The Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal) has authorized a monthly gross pension of approximately €10,000 for its former governor, Mário Centeno. The 59-year-old former Finance Minister reached an agreement to retire after a career that included a decade at the central bank. While the bank maintains the specific terms of the agreement are confidential, the move has sparked public debate regarding retirement ages and public sector benefits.

André Ventura, leader of the Chega party, has summoned the Governor of the Bank of Portugal (Banco de Portugal), Álvaro Santos Pereira, to explain a pension agreement for his predecessor. The controversy involves former governor Mário Centeno, who reportedly reached a deal to retire at 59 with a pension nearly equal to his full salary of approximately 20,000 euros per month. Residents should note this follows reports of a “hidden agreement” regarding the early retirement.

A new report from the Migration Observatory (Observatório das Migrações) reveals that immigrants contributed over €4.15 billion to the Social Security (Segurança Social) system in 2025. This figure represents 14% of the total revenue, highlighting the significant economic role of foreign residents in the national welfare system. Residents should note that this contribution comes despite immigrants making up a smaller percentage of the overall population.

ECO summarises monthly tax and reporting obligations for companies and households, noting invoicing rules under Model 10 (Modelo 10) and a March 2 deadline for the IRS Model 37 (Modelo 37) declaration listed by EContas. The piece is a reminder that businesses and families must keep on top of multiple filings this month to avoid penalties. Taxpayers and business owners should check the full EContas checklist and their AT online account for specific deadlines.

The positive balance between contributions and benefits has risen more than nine times in 11 years. The number of women has increased 4.5 times and the number of men 6.1 times. Statistics will be available monthly starting this Friday.

Foreign workers now account for 17.6% of Social Security (Segurança Social) contributors, with about 840,000 immigrant professionals contributing in December 2025 — a 5.4‑fold rise since 2015 — the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social) said. Total contributions from foreigners exceeded €4.1 billion last year, roughly 8.5 times the €491 million recorded a decade earlier; the government framed the release to counter false narratives about immigrants. Público also notes the positive balance between contributions and benefits has grown strongly and that monthly statistics will be published going forward. Taxpayers and residents should watch the regular data releases to see how workforce composition affects Social Security finances.

Update: Positive balance rose ninefold; monthly stats start Friday

Público reports the positive balance between contributions and benefits has increased by more than nine times over the past 11 years, and that Social Security will begin publishing contributor statistics monthly starting this Friday. RTP and other outlets confirm the broad figures already cited by the ministry, reinforcing the scale of the recent rise in foreign contributions.

Update: Sources diverge; ECO cites €4.15bn, 14% share

New reporting shows differing headline figures: ECO reports contributions from foreign nationals rose about 760% to €4.148 billion in 2025 and states foreigners make up roughly 14% of contributors, while other outlets describe eightfold or 8.5x increases and some reports repeat a 17.6% share. The mismatch appears to come from different calculation windows and datasets; the ministry's move to publish monthly statistics should resolve method and timing differences once the new series begins.