Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro Rejects Pension Age Cut Amid Labor Reform Debate

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro told parliament that the government will not lower the statutory retirement age, a key demand of the far‑right Chega party, arguing that such a change would undermine the sustainability of the Social Security system. The proposal to reduce the pension age was discussed in a recent parliamentary debate on labour reform, with a vote scheduled for the following day. The Socialist Party (PS) and Iniciativa Liberal criticised Montenegro’s position as insufficiently firm and warned that the government might be forced to make concessions.

At the same time, a separate controversy arose over the invitation of parliamentary leaders and ministers to attend Portugal’s World Cup matches in the United States. Critics pointed to a longstanding regulation that bars public officials from accepting benefits worth more than €150, questioning whether the trip constituted a prohibited gift. The debate also featured commentary on the perceived radicalisation of the PS, with some politicians claiming the party had become more extreme under its current leadership.