Key facts
- Portugal's parliament is set to vote on a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Luis Neves.
- The motion was filed by the far-right Chega party.
- The motion is widely expected to fail as other opposition parties aim to avoid political disruption.
- Allegations against Neves involve misconduct during his time as head of the Judicial Police, including how seized drug precursor chemicals were handled and his use of a seized car.
- Neves has denied any wrongdoing and refused to resign.
Portugal's parliament is scheduled to vote on a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Luis Neves, initiated by the far-right Chega party. The motion, which is widely anticipated to fail, targets Neves over allegations of misconduct during his eight-year tenure as head of the Judicial Police. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's centre-right minority government, in office for only 15 months, faces this challenge, underscoring its fragility.
The controversy centers on how a trailer of drug precursor chemicals seized in a police operation ended up at a storage site owned by a contractor who later performed work on Neves' property. Investigations are also examining building permits at the property and Neves' rent-free use of a car confiscated from a convicted drug trafficker. Neves has denied any wrongdoing, stating the arrangement saved the state disposal costs and has refused to step down.
Chega leader Andre Ventura criticized Neves, deeming him unfit for office and accusing the government of a complete disappearance of ethical standards. With 60 lawmakers, Chega is the second-largest group in the 230-seat parliament. The ruling coalition holds 91 seats. Other parties, including the Socialists, are expected to vote against the motion or abstain, with Socialist leader Jose Luis Carneiro stating his party would not cause political chaos, though acknowledging the case erodes Montenegro's authority.
Historically, only one no-confidence motion has succeeded in Portugal's democratic history, in 1987. Montenegro, who took office in April 2024, has already survived two previous motions. His first administration collapsed in March 2025 after he lost a confidence vote he himself proposed.