Portugal Ministry of Internal Administration faces crisis over spending allegations

A political crisis has emerged in Portugal following the removal of Ricardo Carrilho, the former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI). Carrilho has publicly accused Minister Luís Neves of pressuring him to authorize illegal acts, specifically regarding a 26 million euro payment to SIRESP and procurement procedures for PSP and GNR facilities.

In response to an audit by the General Inspection of Finance (IGF), which identified 4.5 million euros in ineligible expenses related to European funds, Carrilho has dismissed the allegations as “fake news.” He maintains that the discrepancies are part of an audit regarding the absorption of community financing by the National Republican Guard (GNR) and suggests the GNR should return the funds to the SGMAI for reallocation.

Minister Luís Neves and his secretaries of state have rejected the accusations, stating that Carrilho was dismissed due to a “breakdown in trust” and that his actions were detrimental to the functioning of public services. The conflicting accounts present two incompatible versions of events regarding the management of public funds and administrative authority.