Montenegro says he expects PJ searches to be "rapidly clarified" as Liberal Initiative leader demands explanations from Government
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said he expects the situation arising from searches at the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) to be "rapidly clarified", speaking to reporters in New York after a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The head of the PSD/CDS-PP government was responding to questions about Wednesday's searches by the Ministério Público (MP) at Portugal's criminal investigation police force.
The searches form part of an inquiry investigating Carlos Cabreiro, the national director of the PJ since April 2026, on suspicion of false statements and abuse of power. Mariana Leitão, leader of the Liberal Initiative party (Iniciativa Liberal), criticised Montenegro's response and called for clarifications from him and the Justice Minister. She said the events had "profoundly" affected the PJ.
Montenegro told journalists that no Portuguese citizen likes seeing institutions affected by investigation proceedings, adding that when denunciations, suspicions or complaints arise, everything must be investigated. "With normality it must be, regardless of the recipient of those complaints — it can be a politician, a police officer, a common citizen," he said.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the situation would be clarified quickly and that "confidence in institutions" would be strengthened once doubts were removed.
Asked about accusations by Chega leader André Ventura regarding share purchases that allegedly could have benefited Government members, Montenegro dismissed the claim as "nonsense".
Cabreiro suspected over 2015 recording in Football Leaks case
The investigation centres on whether PJ elements made an unauthorised recording in October 2015 at a service area on the A5 motorway, near Oeiras. The recording allegedly captured a meeting between Aníbal Pinto — then lawyer for Rui Pinto — Nélio Lucas, linked to Doyen, and lawyer Pedro Henriques. This meeting was considered decisive for identifying Rui Pinto, the creator of the Football Leaks platform.
Cabreiro, who was coordinator of the Cybercrime Investigation Section at the PJ's Lisboa e Vale do Tejo Directorate at the time, is suspected of having denied under oath in court that such a recording existed.
The crimes under investigation are aggravated perjury and abuse of power.
The inquiry originated from a complaint by David Freitas, a PJ coordinator, to the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR). Freitas claims to have found documentation at the Unidade de Prevenção e Apoio Tecnológico (UPAT) in Loures, including a mission order for the use of listening devices, that contradicted Cabreiro's version.
The Ministério Público carried out searches at UPAT and in Cabreiro's office, including his computer. The process remains under judicial secrecy and no formal suspects (arguidos) had been constituted at the time of the searches.
President Seguro and Prosecutor-General stress institutional confidence
President António José Seguro said he continues to have confidence in the PJ and hopes the investigation results, determined "as quickly as possible", will reinforce his convictions. Speaking outside the Estoril Congress Centre after a conference on demography and longevity, the head of state said he would not comment on ongoing legal proceedings but stressed the importance of everyone acting within their competencies so that "the prestige of institutions comes out reinforced".
Amadeu Guerra, the Procurador-Geral da República (PGR), denied any tension between the MP and the PJ. Speaking to journalists in Bragança, he said: "We have always collaborated well, there is no problem." He stressed that the PJ deserves respect and that the situation was part of normal democratic life.
Guerra explained the investigative process: a complaint leads to an inquiry, followed by steps to gather evidence, which is then analysed before deciding whether to press charges or archive the case. He confirmed the PJ had collaborated with the searches.
Football Leaks sentencing postponed as PJ officers called to testify
A judge has postponed sentencing a PJ inspector involved in the Football Leaks investigation and summoned six PJ officers to testify on 16 October regarding the alleged illegal recording of Aníbal Pinto. Among those called are David Freitas and four UPAT inspectors who allegedly participated in the recording.
Cabreiro has stated he does not intend to step down and maintains the declarations he gave during the Football Leaks trial. The Justice Minister has reiterated her confidence in Cabreiro and the PJ's mission.
