General Daily Briefing: Monday, 26 October 2026
What to Do in a Medical Emergency in Portugal
Who to call when someone is ill or hurt in Portugal: 112, the SNS 24 line, what happens at the hospital, and when an emergency visit is free.
Good morning. Here is your Monday briefing for 26 October 2026: the day's essential Portugal stories for residents, immigrants and anyone keeping an eye on the country, below this week's featured guide.
- Energy: Galp has ended its refining and retail merger talks with Spain's Moeve, so Sines stays with Galp, and posted adjusted quarterly profit of 682 million euros.
- Brazil's runoff: Brazilians voting in Portugal gave Lula 59.4 percent, Faro went to Flávio Bolsonaro, and anyone who did not vote has until 8 January to justify it.
- Defence: Portugal will buy three KC-390 aircraft from Embraer and sell them on to Greece, in a deal of up to 590 million euros that Athens pays for.
- Road safety: from 2 November, checks on dangerous-goods lorries grade breaches against a fixed list of 48 offences in three risk tiers.
- Air fares: Brazil's tax reform brings air tickets under a new VAT from 2027, and TAP's chief fears for his airline's biggest market.
- Sport: unspent money from the national sports plan will rebuild storm-hit sports facilities and fund club, council and school refurbishments.
Galp Ends the Moeve Talks
Galp said on Monday that talks with Moeve on combining refining and fuel retail ended with no agreement, so the Sines refinery and Galp's service stations stay with the Portuguese group. Its replacement cost adjusted net income was 682 million euros in the third quarter, up 68 percent; IFRS net income fell 24 percent to 201 million, mainly on derivatives valuations.
Lula Widens His Lead Among Brazilians in Portugal
TSE figures give Lula 59.4 percent of the runoff vote in Portugal, about 60 percent in both Lisbon and Porto, while Flávio Bolsonaro took Faro with 52.7 percent. Turnout rose to 43.9 percent of 134,400 registered voters. Nationally Lula won 51.79 percent, and Flávio Bolsonaro says he will go to court. Voters who missed the runoff have until 8 January 2027 to justify it.
Three KC-390s for Greece, Bought Through Lisbon
A Council of Ministers resolution published on 22 October authorises up to 589.98 million euros plus VAT for three KC-390s, electronic warfare equipment, training and support. Portugal buys them from Embraer and sells them to Greece under a government-to-government deal, with the revenue covering the full cost.
New Rules for Dangerous-Goods Lorry Checks
Decreto-Lei 204/2026 takes effect on 2 November. Roadside checks by the IMT, GNR, PSP and ASAE will grade breaches against a fixed list of 48 offences in three risk tiers, and shippers and hauliers take on new duties on documents, extinguishers, trailers and training records.
Brazil Taxes Air Tickets From 2027
Brazil's new dual VAT reaches air fares from 2027 and applies in full from 2033, with rates set by the Senate. ECO puts the effective rate at 26.5 percent, and an airline association expects 17.8 percent fewer international trips. TAP, for which Brazil is the biggest foreign market, says it hopes the full rate never arrives.
Leftover Sports Money for Storm-Hit Facilities
A resolution moves unspent money from the national sports plan to rebuilding sports facilities in the Storm Kristin calamity zones and to two refurbishment measures budgeted at 23 million euros. It sets no amount and opens no call, so clubs should register with the IPDJ and keep records of storm damage.
Also published since yesterday's briefing
- The Porto Brief, Week of 25 October 2026: A Siza Plan for the Avenida da Ponte, a Tender to Save the Palácio de São João Novo, and FC Porto Set a Club Record Read →
- Social Security Pensions Land on 6 November and CGA Pensions, Christmas Bonus Included, on the 19th: Every Benefit Payment Date for November 2026 Read →
- Petrol Should Drop 7 to 8 Cents a Litre on Monday and Diesel Edge Up 1 to 1.5 Cents, as the Weekly Tax Order Trims the Petrol Discount Read →
- Serra da Estrela Mountain Villages Line Up Chestnut Festivals, Mushroom Walks and a Medronho Fair Through November Read →
- Ombudsman Urges Parliament to Shield Peace Court Judges From Outside Influence, but Small Claims Work as Before Read →
- Domestic Violence Incidents Reported to the PSP Rise to 269 in a Week, With Eight Arrests: Where to Get Help Read →
- Cascais School Blessing: Portugal's Ombudsman Backs the Religious Freedom Commission, a Secularist Group Says Read →
- Buyers in an Alleged 15 Million Euro Palmela Housing Fraud Seek Insured Deposits: What Protects a Down Payment on an Off-Plan Home Today Read →
- Portugal's Last Circus Elephant Gets a Companion in November, as an Alentejo Sanctuary Readies Kariba for the Trip From Belgium Read →
- Coimbra Region Wins 1.56 Million Euros From the EU to Clear Invasive Water Primrose From the Mondego Basin, One of Five LIFE Projects Led From Portugal Read →
- University of Lisbon Opens 2027/28 Applications for International Students on 4 January: Who Counts as International and What the Fees Are Read →
- Seagrass Restoration Moves Toward Portugal's Voluntary Carbon Market: a Method Proposed by Airport Operator ANA Is Open for Comment Until 22 November Read →
- Guarda Becomes an Inland Terminal for the Port of Leixões, as a 4 Million Euro Dry Port Opens at the City's Rail Freight Yard Read →
