Lusa workers pass vote of repudiation against agency board

Workers at the Lusa news agency have passed a vote of repudiation against the agency’s Board of Directors, accusing the leadership of successive acts of “mismanagement and disrespect for independence norms.” The resolution, approved by approximately 150 employees in a plenary session, calls on the Portuguese government to clarify whether it maintains confidence in the current administration.

The Board, consisting of Joaquim Carreira, Ana Alves, and Luís Ferreira Lopes, faces allegations regarding the hostile rejection of the Company Agreement, a lack of negotiations concerning 2026 salary increases, and editorial interference in contract definitions for delegation heads and the selection of a journalist for the Brussels delegation.

This internal crisis follows the departure of Information Director Luísa Meireles, who accepted a proposal to leave her position after describing the situation as unsustainable. Meireles characterized her exit as a “live dismissal” following comments made by Board President Joaquim Carreira in parliament regarding her legal limits in the role and potential conflicts of interest.