Investigation Finds 40 Portuguese Lawmakers Hold Real Estate Stakes
An investigation by Público revealed that 40 serving government officials and deputies in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) hold financial interests in 56 real estate firms. These companies collectively earned more than €23 million in revenue last year while securing public contracts and state subsidies. While Portuguese law allows politicians to own company shares, the holdings raise transparency questions under statutory rules governing incompatibilities and conflicts of interest.
The Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) is Portugal's unicameral parliament, located in the Palácio de São Bento in Lisbon. It consists of 230 deputies elected by proportional representation for four-year terms.
The Assembly's powers include making and amending laws, approving the state budget, ratifying international treaties, and overseeing the government through debates, hearings, and committees. It can also pass votes of no confidence to bring down a government, as happened in March 2025.
Following the May 2025 elections, the current parliamentary composition is led by the Democratic Alliance (AD) with the largest share of seats, followed by Chega, PS, and smaller parties including the Liberal Initiative, Left Bloc, Livre, and PCP.
