Portugal Minister Clears CP of Corruption but Admits Trains Need Replacing
Minister defends CP against allegations of improper links with private interests
A tense parliamentary hearing devoted to the draft State Budget for 2026 unexpectedly turned into a clash over the integrity of CP – Comboios de Portugal. Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz pushed back against claims from the right-wing party Chega that the operator cultivates "murky" relations with private companies, insisting the railway is staffed "by professionals who take their jobs seriously".
The accusations
Chega deputy Francisco Gomes accused the state-owned firm of lacking transparency and hinted at favouritism in the award of contracts. He spoke of "clear signs of back-scratching" but provided no concrete examples during the committee session.
Minister’s counter-strike
Pinto Luz rejected the narrative outright and challenged the MP to file a complaint with the Public Prosecutor if any evidence exists. "If I held even a shred of proof of collusion, I would hand it over myself," he said, calling CP "a company that delivers for the country".
Fleet and maintenance still under pressure
While rebuffing the corruption charges, the minister admitted that CP’s workshop capacity and rolling-stock availability remain stretched. Internal projections show that, beyond the roughly 200 new multiple-units already ordered for delivery over the next few years, the operator may still need a similar number to meet demand on inter-city, regional and suburban routes. Many carriages in daily service are more than four decades old, a fact highlighted repeatedly by passenger associations.
No audits pointing to wrongdoing in 2025
A review of publications by the Court of Auditors, the Inspectorate-General of Finance and Parliament’s own Transparency Commission revealed no investigation or special audit of CP released this year. The most recent Court of Auditors report, covering 2024, did not single out the railway for any irregularities.
Labour unions focus on pay and staffing, not allegations
Trade-union federations representing drivers, maintenance engineers and station staff have not publicly weighed in on Chega’s claims. Their public statements in 2025 have centred on wage disputes, staff shortages and strike action rather than governance issues. FECTRANS, for example, recently criticised the government for offering "take-it-or-leave-it" pay proposals, saying the approach stifles meaningful negotiation.
What happens next?
Parliament will continue examining the draft budget, which earmarks additional funds for CP’s fleet-renewal programme and infrastructure maintenance. Whether Chega chooses to substantiate its accusations in court now rests with the party. For the moment, no official investigative body has announced any probe into the company’s contracting practices.
Pinto Luz left the hearing repeating a single line: "Our trains may be old, but the people who run them are beyond reproach."
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