Weekly Digest

Weekly Digest — April 05 to April 12, 2026

National strike called for April 17, diesel breaks EUR 2 for the first time, AIMA crashes before the April 15 deadline, Parliament approves emergency fuel tax cut, 59,000 homes never built, PSI hits 18-year high, and Portugal's sovereign AI model nears release. The week's most important stories.

The week's most important Portugal stories, curated from our daily coverage — April 5 to 12, 2026.

This was a week of strikes, shocks, and structural shifts. A national strike was called for April 17, the EU's biometric border system went live and immediately buckled at Portuguese airports, diesel broke the two-euro barrier for the first time, and Parliament approved an emergency fuel tax cut. Here are the stories that mattered most.

Politics & Government

CGTP Calls National Strike for April 17 — Construction Unions Join Mass Walkout

Portugal's largest trade union confederation has called a full-day national strike and mass march on parliament for April 17, opposing the government's Trabalho XXI labour reform package. Construction and local government workers will walk out alongside the broader action.

UGT Unanimously Rejects Government Labour Reform — PS Also Refuses to Back Trabalho XXI

Both major union confederations have now rejected the government's labour law overhaul, and the Socialist Party has refused to support it in parliament — leaving the centrepiece of PSD's economic agenda without a clear path to approval.

Government Scraps Court of Auditors Prior Approval for 90% of Public Contracts

The Council of Ministers approved a sweeping reform exempting more than 90 per cent of public contracts from Tribunal de Contas prior review. The watchdog itself warned the move risks weakening oversight of public spending.

Former PM Passos Coelho Wants to Return to Power — PSD Elections Set for May

Pedro Passos Coelho intends to run for PSD leader and has "a project for the country," according to ex-parliamentary leader Fernando Negrão. PSD internal elections are scheduled for May.

Economy & Cost of Living

Portugal Faces EUR 4 Billion Cut in Next EU Budget

An internal European Parliament analysis shows Portugal's allocation under the proposed 2028–2034 EU budget would fall from EUR 32.9 billion to EUR 28.9 billion — a 12 per cent cut that threatens social programmes, agriculture, and cohesion funding.

Diesel Breaks EUR 2 Per Litre — A New All-Time Record

Portuguese diesel prices crossed the two-euro-per-litre threshold for the first time in history, driven by the Strait of Hormuz crisis and global energy market turmoil.

Parliament Unanimously Approves Emergency Fuel Tax Cut Through June 30

In a rare unanimous vote, parliament lowered the ISP fuel tax floor through the end of June, providing some relief amid record pump prices.

Fewer Companies Born, More Going Bust — Q1 2026 Entrepreneurship Data Flashes Warnings

Portugal created 14,750 new companies in Q1 2026, a decline of 5.9 per cent year-on-year. At the same time, insolvencies rose — a warning sign for the broader economy.

Easter Spending Jumps 16% as MB WAY Payments Surge

Consumer spending over Easter rose sharply, driven by digital payments, tourist activity, and a noticeable shift in spending patterns.

Trade & Tariffs

US Tariffs Freeze Portuguese Wine Exports — But Cork Dodges the Bullet

The 20 per cent US tariff on EU goods has frozen wine export orders, threatening Portugal's EUR 5.3 billion trade stake with America. Cork, however, was exempted — a lifeline for the Alentejo industry.

EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Takes Effect May 1 — What It Means for Portugal

The landmark trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur kicks in on May 1. Portuguese exporters stand to gain, but farmers are bracing for cheaper South American competition.

Immigration & Borders

AIMA's Online Systems Keep Crashing Days Before April 15 Deadline

Thousands of immigrants cannot submit documents as AIMA's portal fails repeatedly, just days before extended residence permits lose validity on April 15.

PSP Forces Emergency Halt to Biometric Checks at Airport Departures

The EU's Entry/Exit System went live on April 10 but immediately overwhelmed Portuguese border police. PSP suspended departure biometric collection at airports to prevent passengers missing flights.

Portugal's Nationality Law Sits on the President's Desk — Three Scenarios

The new nationality law that doubles the residency requirement to 10 years for non-EU citizens now awaits President Seguro's decision: sign, veto, or send to the Constitutional Court.

Housing

59,000 Pre-Approved Homes Never Got Built — Regulation and Costs Choking Supply

Some 59,000 housing units that received pre-certification over the past three years were never built because rising costs, 23% VAT, and regulatory uncertainty made them financially unviable.

Only Hungary Has Seen Faster House Price Growth Than Portugal in a Decade

Eurostat data confirms Portugal's house prices have risen faster than every EU country except Hungary over the past ten years — adding fuel to the housing affordability debate.

Health & Society

Portugal's NHS Creating a Two-Tier Healthcare System

The same clinics offer same-week appointments to private patients while SNS users wait up to a year — a growing divide that raises questions about the future of universal healthcare.

Portuguese Have Fewer Friends Than a Decade Ago — ISCTE Study

A major ISCTE study finds the Portuguese have fewer close friends and socialise less than ten years ago, with young adults and low-income groups suffering the steepest decline.

Portugal Logged 365,802 Crimes in 2025 — Cybercrime and Arson Surge

Annual crime statistics show cybercrime and arson rose sharply, while violent crime declined. Prison overcrowding reached critical levels.

Energy & Environment

Portugal Smashes Renewable Energy Record — 80% Clean Electricity in Q1

Clean energy sources supplied 80 per cent of Portugal's electricity in the first quarter of 2026, a new record driven by strong wind and hydro output.

Airlines Brace for Summer Disruption — Portugal Most Exposed to Jet Fuel Shortfall

Argus Media estimates Portugal has just four months of commercial jet fuel stocks, the lowest in Western Europe after the UK, raising the prospect of flight disruptions this summer.

Portugal Launches Nationwide Deposit Return Scheme

Portugal became the first continental Southern European country to launch a nationwide bottle-and-can deposit return system, with a EUR 0.10 refund on every single-use container.

Business & Finance

Fosun Weighs Sale of 20% Stake in BCP

Chinese conglomerate Fosun International is considering selling its 20.45 per cent stake in Banco Comercial Português, Portugal's largest listed bank, as it seeks to raise cash.

TAP Privatisation Can Proceed With Just One Bidder

The government confirmed TAP's privatisation process can advance even with a single bidder, as Lufthansa and Air France-KLM compete for a stake in Portugal's flag carrier.

Lisbon Stock Exchange Hits Highest Level Since 2008

The PSI index surged past 9,400 points, touching an 18-year high, driven by ceasefire optimism and energy sector gains.

Technology & Innovation

Portugal's Sovereign AI Model Amalia Nears Final Release

Sixty researchers from seven universities have spent 19 months building Amalia, a fully open-source large language model purpose-built for European Portuguese, trained on national supercomputers.

Volkswagen Confirms New Electric Models for Autoeuropa

VW will build new electric vehicle models at its Palmela plant, as electric cars now account for half of all new vehicle sales in Portugal.

Transport

Lisbon Airport Ranked Worst in Europe for Punctuality

Eurocontrol data shows just 49 per cent of departures from Lisbon left on time in 2025 — the lowest rate of any major European airport.

Via Verde Raises Toll Subscription Fees Up to 25%

Via Verde increased its electronic toll subscription fees by as much as 25 per cent from Thursday, adding to the cost pressures on Portuguese motorists.