Portuguese Socialist Party leader José Luís Carneiro said Internal Administration Minister Luís Neves has been politically weakened by ongoing investigations, but rejected calls for him to resign during a television interview on Friday night.
Carneiro stated that the cases involving Neves differ from those of other government members because they could involve potential criminal liability, meaning political leaders must wait for official inquiries to conclude before acting hastily.
Speaking from Valença during an interview on the NOW television channel program Jornal à Noite, the opposition leader urged patience while several state and international bodies investigate the matters surrounding the minister.
Valença is a northern Portuguese town located in the Viana do Castelo district, along the border with Spain. The Socialist Party is Portugal's main center-left opposition party.
Inquiries into internal administration minister
Carneiro reiterated that recent events have eroded the authority of the Ministry of Internal Administration, which oversees domestic security and police forces in Portugal. However, he noted that the President of the Republic had also advised waiting for official findings before reaching final conclusions.
He highlighted three ongoing investigations: an inquiry by the Prosecutor General's Office, an investigation by the European Union into the use of European funds, and a separate probe developed by Portugal's Ministry of Justice.
Criticism of education, health, and labor ministers
Carneiro took a harsher stance toward three other cabinet members, stating that the ministers of education, health, and labor are completely without political authority, unlike Neves whom he classified as merely weakened.
Despite the sharp criticism, Carneiro emphasized that the Socialists never demand the resignation of cabinet ministers, arguing that the responsibility rests entirely with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
Montenegro must answer for how his team operates and ensure that cabinet members meet their obligations regarding impartiality, neutrality, and compliance with the law, Carneiro said.
