Stories from Lisbon · Portugal

The Director of the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action stated that the 'Operation Influencer' investigation has been ongoing for a long time. The Public Ministry seeks the competence to select emails for evidence production under judicial control. The investigation remains ongoing as of Tuesday. These procedural requirements can cause delays lasting several years before digital evidence becomes workable. The source did not specify the exact nature of the influencer operation. The proposals include legalizing access to suspects' emails and messages to speed up investigations. Officials stated these measures aim to make the investigative process more efficient. A working group is considering using GPS location data as evidence, despite current laws not explicitly expressing its use.

The average effective income tax (IRS) rate for taxpayers in Portugal fell to 11.6% in 2023. This is a decrease from the 12.8% average recorded in the previous period. The president of the CCDR was heard in parliament regarding these figures. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is expected to address the matter. The data was reported during a segment discussing economic trends and parliamentary hearings. Portugal ranks among the highest in the European Union for digital piracy, with audiovisual content access rates 33% above the EU average. Digital piracy is estimated to cause annual losses of over 200 million euros to the Portuguese economy. These losses include unpaid taxes that the state fails to capture. Authorities noted that digital piracy is a highly profitable criminal business, sometimes rivaling drug trafficking in profitability.

The consumer protection organization DECO is calling for the creation of a national or European-level fund to compensate citizens for service collapses. This proposal follows recent failures in essential public services, specifically electricity supply. DECO representative Ingrid Praira advised consumers to maintain emergency kits containing water, medication, flashlights, and battery-powered radios. The organization warned that similar service disruptions could occur again. A consumer rights group is advocating for the creation of a compensation fund to support families during general power failures. Ingrid Praira, a lawyer for DECO, stated that such a fund is necessary to respond to incidents like the exceptional power failure that occurred on April 28, 2025. Praira noted that such events cannot be entirely avoided due to dependencies on the Spanish power grid.

A set of proposals has been introduced to accelerate criminal processes in Portugal. Samachado noted that current data suggests a failure to comply with existing health guidelines. These guidelines cover labor induction, vaginal birth after cesarean, healthcare organization, and intrapartum care. Current data indicates a failure to comply with existing health directorate guidelines regarding labor induction and vaginal births following previous cesarean sections. The proposal aims to address these discrepancies in reproductive health practices. A source noted that 60% of births in the public health sector are cesarean sections. The increase is attributed to both demographic changes and sociological shifts among women of childbearing age. The cause of the rising rate is described as multi-factorial.

The Public Ministry stated it will not rush any decisions regarding the 'Operation Influencer' investigation due to public opinion pressure. Rui Cardoso noted that the ministry intends to act strictly within the existing legal framework. The investigation is described as having been ongoing for a long time. Officials said their duty to follow legal procedures without being swayed by external sentiment. The director of the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action stated that the 'Operation Influencer' investigation has been ongoing for a long time. The case is linked to the resignation of former Prime Minister António Costa.

Schools in Portugal are distributing students across different grade levels to manage a lack of teachers. The issue is driven by an aging workforce and the treatment of educators over the last 20 years. Policy priorities must focus on supporting teachers to address these systemic challenges. The source noted that teachers face excessive bureaucracy and unbearable accountability measures. Creating a new dynamic within schools is considered essential to overcoming current educational problems. The current educational landscape is characterized by high levels of multiculturalism, with some schools hosting 40 to 60 different nationalities. This diversity is noted as having potential for the country's democratization and economy, despite the staffing challenges. The Ministry of Education is criticized for a bureaucratic administrative structure that fails to predict or address the crisis.

The list of unavailable players for Sporting CP continues to increase ahead of tomorrow's match at Estádio José Alvalade. Reported absences include Ivan, Fregeneda, and Nácio. The squad situation remains uncertain following a press conference. The Sporting CP coach adopted a relaxed posture in the press room despite end-of-season pressure. He responded to all journalist questions regarding recent events.

Three Public Ministry inspectors, who also serve as prosecutors, are conducting an inspection of the sixth section of the DCAP. The source suggests the current management of the Teixeira section is ineffective for combating financial crime. Inspectors have identified resource deficiencies within a Portuguese judicial department. There are concerns that computers are not consistently connected to the information network due to security protocols. The Ministry of Justice must ensure that the technological infrastructure is fully secure to prevent past vulnerabilities. Officials at the CEP have reportedly opted not to connect computers to the network due to security concerns. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of the technological platform to maintain a swift justice system.

Approximately 20,000 clients have been without communications services for three months. The situation remains a primary concern for those affected. Operators are reinforcing teams on the ground to restore full communications across territories. The situation continues to have a negative impact on the region while the restoration process is ongoing. The outage lasted for more than 12 hours and the causes are currently unknown. At least 20,000 people in Portugal remain without communications following recent storms. The government presented a plan that lacked specific implementation details or a schedule for resolution. The broadcaster noted the situation is unusual for a developed nation. The current situation persists months after the storms occurred. A technical team was previously established to address system issues, but results from a 12-month evaluation have not been released.

Paul Santos of the Civismo Movement is suggesting legislative changes to allow for fines against individuals accessing digital and audiovisual content illegally. The proposal aims to implement a pedagogical function alongside financial penalties for piracy. This comes as part of ongoing discussions regarding digital piracy in Portugal. The group seeks to identify technical methods to detect piracy consumption.