Portuguese Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves is facing mounting political pressure to leave the government following successive controversies surrounding his previous tenure as head of the criminal investigation agency.
Portugal's President of the Republic has expressed discomfort with Neves remaining in office, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha.
The Minister of Internal Administration oversees homeland security, policing policy, and civil protection services across Portugal, including emergency operations during the annual summer fire season.
Censure motion threat
Opposition party Chega has warned it will submit a motion of censure against the government in parliament on Tuesday if the Prime Minister fails to dismiss Neves.
Chega party leader André Ventura declared that his party would align with the President of the Republic's appeal and introduce the parliamentary censure motion next week.
Ventura said Chega does not intend to provoke a political crisis, but insisted that public institutions must maintain ethical standards and clear up ongoing suspicions of crime, collusion, and institutional quagmire.
He added that the political system could not tolerate a minister operating like Al Capone, where serious allegations are acknowledged yet allowed to continue without consequence.
Wildfire season delay
Weekly newspaper Nascer do Sol reported that the Prime Minister asked politician António José Seguro for extra time to address Neves' situation because Portugal is currently in the middle of wildfire season.
The Ministry of Internal Administration plays a vital role during summer forest fire emergencies, making ministerial changes sensitive while firefighting operations remain active across the country.
Ventura argued that if the Prime Minister remains politically compromised by supporting Neves, he forfeits his authority to govern the country.
Opposition reactions and police vehicle
Representing the opposition Socialist Party, José Luís Carneiro stated he had already voiced everything an opposition leader needed to say regarding the minister, while declining to comment on Chega's proposed censure motion.
Scrutiny over Neves has also focused on privileges retained from his former career, including reports that he still keeps an official vehicle assigned during his time as director of the Polícia Judiciária.
The Polícia Judiciária is Portugal's national criminal investigation police force, operating under the Ministry of Justice to investigate serious crime, financial offenses, and complex corruption cases.
