Latest news and stories about justice system in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
Demonstrators gathered in Lisbon and Porto this Saturday to protest the judicial system's treatment of child abuse and domestic violence victims. Organized by the Women's Movement, participants criticized the systematic devaluation of abuse reports and the practice of mandating contact between child victims and their alleged abusers in civil guardianship cases.
Minister of Justice Rita Alardão Júdice has rejected claims of lying and collusion following accusations from the Chega party regarding the destruction of chemicals during the tenure of Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) director Luís Neves. André Ventura, leader of Chega, has demanded an urgent parliamentary hearing to investigate the matter, while the ministry maintains it is investigating the case in detail.
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 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.
Starting September 1st, judges will have the authority to impose fines of up to 10,200 euros on parties who engage in acts intended to delay legal proceedings. This measure, published in the official gazette (Diário da República), aims to streamline the justice system.
The Official Journal (Diário da República) is Portugal's government gazette where laws, decrees and public contracts are formally published and take legal effect. Public‑private partnership approvals and other official notices — like the launch of the Central Algarve Hospital PPP — are published there so residents and businesses can find the authoritative text.
The Council of Europe has threatened further action against Portugal unless the government presents a concrete plan to address prison overcrowding. Minister of Justice Rita Alarcão Júdice faced pressure during a recent committee meeting regarding the delayed closure of the Lisbon Penitentiary and ongoing human rights concerns within the prison system.
Rita Alarcão Júdice is the Minister of Justice (Ministra da Justiça) in Portugal, serving since April 2024 as part of the government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. A lawyer by profession, she is responsible for overseeing the national judicial system, including the prison services that are currently under scrutiny for overcrowding.
The Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (Conselho Superior dos Tribunais Administrativos e Fiscais or CSTAF) has formally refuted claims made by former Prime Minister José Sócrates regarding the scheduling of his lawsuit against the State. The judicial body denied allegations that the court's timing was influenced by fear of the European Court of Human Rights. The case is set to proceed in May.
José Sócrates is a former Portuguese Prime Minister who led the Socialist Party government from 2005 to 2011. He has been a central figure in high-profile legal cases linked to Operation Marquês, and recent reports say he plans to complain to the UN about Portugal's justice system.
The CSTAF (Conselho Superior dos Tribunais Administrativos e Fiscais) is the governing body responsible for the management and discipline of judges within Portugal's administrative and tax courts. It ensures the independence and proper functioning of these specialized courts, which handle disputes between citizens and the state or tax authorities.
Three former inspectors of the Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or SEF) convicted for the murder of Ihor Homeniuk were released on parole in late March. The decision was confirmed by the Execution of Sentences Court (Tribunal de Execução de Penas or TEP) following their initial nine-year prison sentences.
The Foreigners and Borders Service (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or SEF) was a police agency responsible for border control and immigration management until it was abolished in October 2023. Its functions were transferred to other entities, such as the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) and the police forces, following a restructuring intended to separate administrative services from security enforcement.
A proposed change to the Code of Criminal Procedure would allow judges to order financial sanctions on lawyers whose actions are judged 'manifestly unfounded', with fines ranging from €204 to €10,200 and a 50% surcharge if unpaid after ten days. Critics say the measure could limit access to justice by deterring lawyers from representing clients in difficult cases and could impose unaffordable costs on defendants. The debate highlights tensions between procedural discipline and legal defence rights under the reform. Those involved in criminal cases should follow developments and consult legal counsel about potential impacts.
