Portugal’s PM Takes Over Interior Ministry, Fast-Tracks Flood Relief and Patrols

The Portugal Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has taken personal control of the Ministry for Internal Administration, a rare step that concentrates power over police, civil-protection and disaster funding at the very top of government just as the country counts the cost of last week’s floods.

Why This Matters

• Faster emergency payouts – Municipalities can now clear compensation cheques within 48 hours instead of the usual week-long shuffle between ministries.

• No political vacuum – By standing in, Montenegro avoids leaving the sensitive Internal Administration brief leaderless in the middle of storm season.

• Clock is ticking – The arrangement ends on 9 March, when president-elect António José Seguro takes office and a wider cabinet reshuffle is expected.

• Police labour talks stay on track – Pay-grade negotiations with PSP & GNR unions remain scheduled for 24 February, despite the ministerial shake-up.

Why the Change Was Inevitable

Storms “Kristin,” “Leonardo” and “Marta” drowned roads from Porto to Faro, leaving 14 dead, hundreds homeless and a repair bill north of €380 million. Former minister Maria Lúcia Amaral was accused of poor field coordination and confusing press briefings. Under pressure from town mayors and opposition benches, she resigned on 10 February saying she lacked the “political and personal conditions” to continue. Stepping in himself allowed Montenegro to deliver a “political signal of accountability,” as President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa put it.

Legal & Historical Context

Portugal’s Constitution, article 183, lets a prime minister hold one or more ministerial portfolios. Precedent is thin—no premier since 1976 has touched Internal Administration—but comparative democracies offer parallels: Luxemburg’s Xavier Bettel stacked four briefs in 2018; France’s Édouard Philippe briefly oversaw Ecology. Constitutional lawyers interviewed by Diário de Notícias argue the move is “unusual but lawful,” provided parliament is informed within five days, which has happened.

Who Is Applauding—and Who Isn’t

• PSD/CDS-PP coalition MPs welcomed the move as proof the cabinet can react “without bureaucratic drama.”• Socialists and Bloco say changing faces will not fix chronic understaffing in Proteção Civil.• Chega’s André Ventura called the switch “a self-inflicted audit” on Montenegro’s own crisis management.• Police federations labelled Amaral’s fall “an unavoidable relief” but warned that if payroll arrears are not settled by March, street demonstrations will resume.

What This Means for Residents

Quicker flood relief – The Cabinet has already trebled the emergency line for household repairs to €30 M, with applications accepted at local parish councils from 19 February.

Extra patrols – Expect visible PSP and GNR reinforcement on riverfront roads and evacuated neighbourhoods; overtime budgets were unlocked on Saturday.

Civil-protection SMS alerts – A nationwide test of the renewed alert system is booked for the morning of 22 February; keep phones charged.

Insurance claims – Insurers confirm that government disaster decrees signed personally by the prime minister will speed up claim validation, potentially shaving a month off normal turnaround.

Next on the Political Calendar

Montenegro says he will name a permanent Minister for Internal Administration only after the new president is sworn in. Insiders tip three contenders: former PSP director Magina da Silva, constitutional lawyer Clara Pires, and current deputy minister Paulo Mota Pinto. Meanwhile parliament still expects to debate the €1.2 B National Civil-Protection Plan on 27 February; opposition parties hint they may leverage the prime-minister-cum-minister setup to demand extra urban-flood infrastructure for Lisbon and the North.

Bottom Line for Expats & Investors

• Rental owners in affected districts should watch for municipal tax relief decrees due before month-end.• Construction firms could see fast-tracked public-works tenders as the government races to rebuild bridges before summer tourism.• Anyone planning travel across central Portugal should bookmark the Proteção Civil road-closure map; with decision-making centralised, updates should post faster than in previous storms.

Montenegro’s double-hat role is temporary, but by holding the reins of both Government and Internal Administration, he owns the success—or failure—of every sandbag, police overtime shift and compensation wire transfer in the weeks ahead.