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The Portugal Brief
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The Portugal Brief

The Portugal Brief

Politics

Seguro Hands the Government a 100-Page Open-Presidency Storm-Response Critique on Saturday 23 May — Faults Coordination, Clarity and Interoperability, Calls for Accelerated Aid and a Pre-Risk-Season Readiness Audit

President Seguro closed his April Presidência Aberta tour with a ~100-page critique of the Government's storm response on 23 May — faulting coordination, clarity and interoperability, and calling for accelerated aid, hardened telecoms / energy redundancy and a pre-summer readiness audit.

Immigration

Tribunal Administrativo de Círculo de Lisboa Books a 45-Fold Climb in AIMA Deportation-Order Challenges From 11 Cases in January 2025 to 496 in April 2026 — 2,271 Pending Cases as the New Return Law Beds In

The Tribunal Administrativo de Círculo de Lisboa logged 496 new legal challenges against AIMA deportation, voluntary-departure and residence-denial orders in April 2026 — 45 times the 11 cases filed in January 2025 — and carries 2,271 pending cases as the new Return Law beds in.

Transport

Pitta Ferraz Takes the Chair and Paulo Carmona Steps Into the Infraestruturas de Portugal CEO Seat in May — Mandate Frames the Porto-Lisbon TGV, Porto-Vigo, Lisbon-Madrid Lines and the Third Tagus Crossing

IP opens a new mandate in May with Duarte Pitta Ferraz as chairman and Paulo Carmona stepping out of the DGEG to take the CEO seat — replacing Miguel Cruz after his end-2024 term. Porto-Lisbon TGV, Porto-Vigo, Lisbon-Madrid and the Third Tagus Crossing top the pipeline.

Economy

Implicit Mortgage Rate Slides to 3.077% in April — Three-Year Low as the Euribor Unwinds the March Iran-Conflict Risk Premium, Average Prestação Holds at €404 and Capital em Dívida Climbs to €77,600

INE's 21 May destaque prints the implicit mortgage rate at 3.077% in April — the lowest single-month figure since March 2023 as the Euribor unwinds the March Iran-conflict risk premium. Average prestação holds at €404 (€207 capital, €197 interest), capital em dívida climbs to €77,600.