Portugal Minister defends Lusa agency and denies RTP merger

Portuguese Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, has described the role of the Lusa news agency as ‘insubstituível’ (irreplaceable) within the country. Speaking at a conference marking Lusa's 40th anniversary in Lisbon, the minister emphasized the need to equip the agency with advanced technological capabilities to navigate the digital era while ensuring information remains under human control.

Leitão Amaro addressed rumors regarding a potential merger between Lusa and the public broadcaster RTP, clarifying that a merger has ‘never been part of the plan’ for the current government or the leadership of either organization. Instead, he advocated for a partnership model, citing the cooperation between Spain's TVE and Efe news agency as a precedent.

The minister identified several areas for improvement for Lusa, including the need for better technological tools and improved working conditions for its professionals. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the agency's independence from all powers and noted that the current year serves as an evaluation period for the agency's statutory model.