The Portuguese Parliament returns with a vast agenda of pending issues, from the tax on extraordinary profits of oil companies approved by the Government in Council of Ministers to the new Budget Framework Law. Montenegro's Executive created a Temporary Solidarity Contribution on the Oil Sector at a rate of 33%, applicable only in 2026 to profits exceeding by more than 20% the average profits of 2024 and 2025, but several aspects remain unclear, including the amount to be raised and the projects to be funded. The State also purchased a 13.7% stake in REN, with Iniciativa Liberal requesting a hearing of the Finance Minister to explain this decision. The Prime Minister also announced an IRS reduction up to the sixth bracket, with an estimated impact of 400 million euros, which will be approved in Council of Ministers and sent to the Assembly of the Republic.
The Single Social Payment returns to Parliament following a joint parliamentary scrutiny request from Livre, PCP and Bloco de Esquerda, who consider the measure "perpetuates the cycle of poverty" and breaches previous promises. PS also questioned the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs about limitations on access to social protection and the requirement of social work from young people. This payment was foreseen in the PRR and, had the Government not regulated it by the end of August, Portugal would have lost around 600 million euros. The salary bonus decree, which aims to refund tuition fees to recent graduates, also carries over to this legislative session, with PS insisting that the legally provided support cannot remain unimplemented.
The Public Prosecutor's Office opened an inquiry into the electronic classification process for national exams, following a complaint from Fenprof based on reports of missing exam papers and instructions to grade incomplete answers. The debut of the digital system in 2026 was marked by digitization failures, delays and platform problems, with requests for re-evaluation increasing by 44%. PS is open to a parliamentary inquiry committee and demanded the minister's resignation, while the National Education Council will conduct an independent evaluation. The frigate case also promises intense debate, with the hearing of Defence Minister Nuno Melo unanimously approved regarding the 3.9 billion euro purchase from Italy, the largest recent investment in the Armed Forces.
The new organic law of INEM is under scrutiny from Livre, PCP and BE, who requested its parliamentary scrutiny, while PS is preparing its own request accusing the Government of promoting a "reduction of resources." The reorganization foresees the transfer of management of 54 ambulances to Local Health Units and the conversion of immediate support ambulances into light vehicles, with workers calling strikes for September 14 and 28. The Local Finance Law, promised a year ago by Luís Montenegro, has seen municipal expectations deflate, with the Prime Minister admitting it is "unrealistic" that the new law will be included in the 2027 Budget. Parliament will also debate restrictions on under-16s accessing social media, which are expected to cover applications such as WhatsApp and artificial intelligence tools.
