Portugal's interior minister Luís Neves faces abuse‑of‑power investigation

Portugal’s interior minister Luís Neves is under criminal investigation for alleged abuse of power and smuggling after a series of irregularities were uncovered. He hired contractor João dos Santos Carvalho of Construbarcelos to build an unauthorised pool on protected land in Odemira, and the same company was later linked to the illegal transport of seized cocaine‑lab assets in a truck from Seixal to Barcelos. The Prosecutor‑General opened a probe into possible abuse of power and customs evasion, noting that Neves failed to file required asset declarations during his tenure as head of the Polícia Judiciária.

Former interior‑administration secretary Filipe Lobo d’Ávila criticised Neves’s explanations, calling the situation a serious authority problem and urging a change in leadership. He suggested that a more moderate figure such as José Luís Carneiro could better serve as prime minister, and called for a thorough investigation into the minister’s conduct.