Stories from Portugal

Transdev transported more than 21 million passengers last year. The company reported a nearly 6% increase in passengers using the Rio crossing. The operator aims to have 100% electric operations on the Montijo connection soon.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Coimbra has doubled its projected number of validations during its initial phase. The system recorded over 14,000 passengers between December and the end of March. Studies for drainage and new piers are advancing to facilitate new routes in Trastejo. New docking points are also expected in Montijo. The Coimbra Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has reached 500,000 validations. Usage averages between 5,000 and 6,000 validations on weekends, which exceeds initial studies. The service is expanding from Phase A to Coimbra B and Praça da República. Expansion to hospitals is expected in the first quarter of next year.

Luiz Sander of the General Inspection of Cultural Activities reported that 2,100 complaints were processed in 2025. These complaints resulted in the blocking or removal of 1,600 domains. New digital services regulations are expected to facilitate combat against piracy by streamlining the role of ANACOM in removing pirate signals, accounts, and websites. Portuguese regulator ANACOM has ordered the temporary blocking of approximately 3,500 domains. The measure targets illegal streaming of live sporting events. ANACOM is calling for increased collaboration from Portuguese digital platforms to enforce these agreements. The block is described as a temporary action to prevent unauthorized live broadcasts. The regulator is targeting piracy of films, football matches, and telenovelas used by broadcasters including SIC, TVI, and RTP.

An investigation known as Operation Influencer is examining allegations of influence peddling related to a data center construction project in Sines. A recorded conversation from 2022 between former Prime Minister António Costa and Diogo Lacerda Machado has surfaced. The probe seeks to determine if the conversation was intended to expedite the project's licensing process. The investigation is currently reviewing the contents of the 2023 discussions and the 2022 recording.

An intercepted 2022 conversation between former Prime Minister António Costa and Diogo Lacerda Machado has challenged previous claims regarding a data center project in Sines. Carrui Cardoso, director of DCAP, stated that judges currently perform only a formal control of the execution of intercepts. The process allows for the selection of messages for use as evidence without public oversight of the selection criteria. The Portuguese Judicial Police are organizing a debate regarding digital piracy. Authorities noted that pirates bypass digital boundaries to operate despite national laws. The phenomenon involves sophisticated, multi-million euro business models that are difficult to combat. The source stated that current laws only apply to entities with local success, allowing pirates to bypass digital borders. The issue is described as a grave problem for the nation.

A new legislative initiative introduced to the Portuguese Parliament seeks to increase the spending ceiling for public entities. The proposal would raise the limit to 10 million euros for expenses that do not require prior approval from the Court of Auditors. The initiative also includes provisions for investments dedicated to reconstruction and rehabilitation following extreme weather events like storms. Additionally, the initiative seeks to exempt investments intended for reconstruction and rehabilitation following extreme events, such as storms and fires, from the requirement for prior approval. The proposal aims to streamline spending in these specific contexts.

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.

The Portuguese Navy responded to an alert received near midnight on Sunday regarding a vessel without propulsion or potable water. Four crew members, including three Spaniards and one Seychellois national, were on board the drifting craft. A Navy vessel from Zaire and a Portuguese Air Force aircraft were deployed to the location near Valtamadeira to conduct the rescue. The crew consists of four people, including three Spanish nationals and one servant. Four crew members, including three Spaniards, were rescued from a drifting vessel by the ship Zair. The vessel was towed to Madeira and subsequently seized under a precautionary measure. The crew members were handed over to authorities in Funchal for processing.