Latest news and stories about government policy in government in Santarém, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Mission Structure for the Reconstruction of the Central Region reports that the Open Presidency's findings on recent storm management align significantly with the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), despite identified coordination challenges.
President of the Republic António José Seguro continues his Open Presidency in the Santarém district, focusing on storm recovery efforts and addressing infrastructure concerns with local GNR officials.
The deadline for submitting lists for Parliament's external bodies concludes today, following a rescheduling from the original April 1st date.
President of the Republic António José Seguro emphasizes the need for a balanced labour agreement while maintaining an active schedule of high-level institutional meetings.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa says the immediate priority in the affected areas is to restore electricity and communications after widespread outages that have left almost 200,000 customers without power and some communities—such as Colmeias and Memória in Leiria—isolated. Speaking after a journey to Ferreira do Zêzere during which he was “almost always without communications”, he warned of long‑standing structural weaknesses, urged caution and calm, and called for a collective, coordinated State response with preventive measures to manage the emergency.
A training session that will be open to the community, at least for those with a ticket. Additionally, the fire in the municipality of Aljustrel, in Beja, has now entered the mop-up phase.
The President of the Republic praised the quality of Portuguese agriculture and the farmers' capacity for resilience and innovation, stating that they must not be left alone. António José Seguro was in Santarém at the Agriculture fair.
In Santarém, the head of state was received by the president of the Portuguese Farmers' Confederation, who highlighted a 'particularly difficult' year that farmers are experiencing due to the storms.
The President of the Republic praises the courage and resilience of farmers, recalling the storms, and stressed that it is important that these professionals 'are not left alone'.
The statement comes after a meeting with Chega leader André Ventura, also admitting “significant” disagreements regarding labour legislation.
The Portuguese Communist Party highlights the importance of commitment and asserts that the country maintains an independent stance in international affairs.
Paulo Raimundo warned that Portugal, despite having “international responsibilities”, has “its own voice”.
According to the communist leader, the creation of the single social benefit must be discussed 'with rigour and truth'.
The Minister of Agriculture admitted today that the 20 million euro support announced by the Government to mitigate the increase in production costs in the sector is insufficient, advocating for a European response to avoid market distortions.
António Leitão Amaro responded to criticisms in the report, cited by MP Rui Rocha (IL), that the “crisis management revealed coordination shortcomings.”
The revenue must be applied to areas related to tourism, including promotion of the territory, conservation of public space, mitigation of tourist pressure, and investment in attractiveness.
The Portuguese head of state has extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV for an official visit to the country in 2027.
The technical report prepared by the Order of Engineers regarding the Mondego floods and future measures advocates for the creation of a public company to manage that river basin, an option rejected by the Minister of Environment. The document, titled 'Technical report on the 2026 floods in the Mondego river basin and review of models...'
A section of a newspaper or publication featuring letters sent by readers to the editor.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Leiria-Fátima stated today that support for families and local structures affected by the bad weather has been slow, attributing the situation to the “slowness of processes” which “makes people lose patience.”
The Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Valério, is calling for “humility” so that the Government and social partners can reach an agreement on a Labour Package that meets the population's needs and helps the country overcome its current “stagnation.” During a press conference at the Sanctuary of Fátima, Valério expressed his hope that the new labour laws will address the wage gap between Portuguese workers and their European counterparts, while noting that the national economy depends on the outcome of these negotiations. Meanwhile, the Government's negotiations with social partners have ended without an agreement with the UGT, leaving Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in need of opposition support to pass the legislation in Parliament.
Accompanied by Nuno Melo, the President watched exercises involving approximately 120 soldiers and learned about equipment used in civil emergencies and high-intensity combat operations.
The programme included a guard of honour, a briefing on Army activity, and operational demonstrations.
The Left Bloc (BE) and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) argue that lay-offs for energy transition cannot be carried out at the expense of workers and are calling for urgent Government intervention. The actions affect up to 500 employees in the Médio Tejo region.
The statements were made on the sidelines of the 5th National Meeting of Diocesan Commissions for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults.
Seguro's first Open Presidency revealed pressure and oversight. The Government only received the programme on the eve of the event.
The President of the Republic wants better conditions for veterans and is pressuring the Government to deliver. He acknowledges progress but does not consider it sufficient while there are still “gaps”.
The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, is on an 'Open Presidency' visit to the Central region areas affected by recent severe weather. This Wednesday, at the Casa dos Tectos in Tomar, he held separate meetings with the Insurance and Pension Funds Supervisory Authority (ASF), the Portuguese Insurers Association (APS), and other entities.
Nuno Melo speaks of correcting an injustice.
Montenegro considers Seguro's contributions constructive and wants less 'noise' to find solutions. The President of the Republic guarantees he is not there to create problems but wants responsibilities to be assumed.
