General Daily Briefing — Friday, 15 May 2026
The latest Portugal news, analysis, and what it means for expats and residents.
Portugal News
General news and current affairs from across Portugal.
Eve of Friday's Prosecutor Strike — SMMP Report Pegs the Ministério Público's Staffing Hole at 162 Magistrates and 267 Court Officials
Paulo Lona's union goes public with a region-by-region staffing map on the eve of Friday's national walkout. Lisbon is short 47 first-instance prosecutors, Évora 36, Porto 26, Coimbra 26, and the superior courts 27. One magistrate in Alenquer is carrying 2,700 open inquiries.
PJ Seizes 278 Works in Penalva do Castelo After Dead American's Caretaker Tries to Sell Alleged Picassos and Mirós
Museus e Monumentos de Portugal alerted the PJ after watching major artworks surface on the market. What agents found in a quiet Viseu village was a 278-piece collection spanning pre-Christian artefacts to David Hockney — and a septuagenarian caretaker allegedly trying to sell what wasn't his.
Rubi Line Delayed Again: Porto Metro's Douro Crossing Won't Open Until 22 July 2028
Porto Metro's 6.4-kilometre Rubi Line across the Douro to Santo Ovídio has slipped again — commercial service is now targeted for 22 July 2028. The EUR 487.9 million project adds a dedicated metro-and-pedestrian bridge over the river and 22 new trains, and is funded by the PRR and the state budget.
IT Glitch at Tax Authority Bounces IRS Refund Transfers — AT Falls Back on Paper Cheques as Normalisation Expected Next Week
A file-processing error at Portugal's Tax Authority carried an incorrect date on IRS refund orders, triggering bank rejections even for pre-validated IBANs. AT is issuing paper cheques as a stopgap and says normalisation is expected within a week — during peak refund season.
Portugal's New Construction Code Takes Effect on 1 June — Replacing 60 Years of Fragmented Building Rules
From 1 June 2026, Portugal enforces a unified Construction Code that replaces over 100 scattered laws. Tacit approval, digital submissions, and a shift from prior to execution-phase control are the headline changes.
Six Black Hawk Helicopters Enter First Operational Wildfire Season as Portugal Braces for a Difficult Summer
Portugal's Air Force will deploy its new fleet of six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters for firefighting this summer — the first operational season for the Panteras squadron based at Ovar.