Portugal's Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, is facing political pressure over his continued use of a seized sports car provided by the Judiciary Police when he was its national director.
The Volkswagen Golf GTD was confiscated during a criminal investigation and given to Neves by the police force on a free loan basis. When he joined the Democratic Alliance government in February, he requested to keep the vehicle.
According to the newspaper Nascer do Sol, Neves frequently parks the car outside his home and uses it on weekends when he has no public engagements. He regularly drives the car himself, dispensing with the drivers and security personnel assigned to his ministry.
Security protocols ignored
When Neves joined the government, the SIS intelligence service assessed him at a level three threat on a five-point scale. Under this assessment, the minister should travel in the back seat behind the passenger, accompanied by a driver and security detail.
Neves defended his decision to drive alone, stating that it ensures greater availability, functionality and operational response capacity in a role that requires unpredictable hours and frequent travel.
He said that waiting for drivers and security staff during emergencies, such as urgent meetings at the airport or with the Civil Protection authority, would cause delays and cost the public more money.
The minister said he has lived under threat his entire life because he assumes direct operational responsibility, a practice he intends to maintain in government.
He maintained that his use of the car is a duly authorized service vehicle arrangement.
Questions over legality and assets
Fernanda de Almeida Pinheiro, former president of the Portuguese Bar Association, told the NOW channel that the arrangement could be illegal. She said seized vehicles can only be allocated to operational police forces and cannot be provided on a free loan basis.
Neves has also faced scrutiny over his personal assets. At a recent press conference, the minister claimed to own only one family car, a Ford Focus. It was subsequently revealed that he also owns a Nissan Qashqai.
Both vehicles are registered in the name of his wife, with whom he is married under a community of property regime. Neves said the low value of the cars means they do not need to be officially declared.
Political fallout
The revelations have prompted criticism from across the political spectrum.
The secretary-general of the opposition Socialist Party stated that Neves's political authority is weakened, but declined to call for his resignation.
In an interview with NOW, senior Socialist figure José Luís Carneiro said there could eventually be a criminal judgment in the case and that ongoing inquiries should be allowed to run their course.
Carneiro added that Prime Minister Luís Montenegro faces surprises every day involving Neves.
The Portuguese Communist Party stated that the episodes surrounding the minister reflect on the entire government. Meanwhile, André Ventura, leader of the right-wing Chega party, accused the prime minister of failing to realize that his minister no longer exists.
Montenegro has defended his minister, praising Neves's extraordinary work and stating that his critics are out of touch with reality.
