In today’s vote on the State Budget for 2026 (OE27026) at the committee stage, the Communist Party saw several initiatives approved that bind the government led by Luís Montenegro (PSD/CDS-PP) to implement infrastructure projects across the country.
With the approval of the proposal on the Third Tagus Crossing (TTT), the Government is now obliged to take the necessary steps next year to implement this infrastructure, ensuring both road and rail components.
The budget provision further states that the investment entails the development of all complementary access networks in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, both north and south of the Tagus.
The PCP justifies this measure as being a critical element in improving north-south connections, particularly to Alentejo, Algarve, and Spain, considering it a measure of enormous importance for structuring metropolitan mobility, public transport, and the national transport and logistics network.
In early October, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), mandated to develop studies on the high-speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid, announced a survey among users of the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges to study the demand for the future TTT and better understand mobility habits in the region.
Apart from the measure on the Third Tagus Crossing, the PCP saw another proposal approved that envisages the modernization of the Oeste railway line and other initiatives for road structure rehabilitation—including the duplication of the IP3 between Coimbra and Santa Comba Dão, initiating procedures for the requalification of the IC1 between Palma and Alcácer do Sal (South), and starting construction works on the IC31 motorway, toll-free, to ensure the link of the A23 between Alcains (Castelo Branco) and Termas de Monfortinho (Idanha-a-Nova).
In the final round of today’s votes, MPs also approved another PCP initiative for the construction of public residences in the Porto district. The measure received approval after Chega adjusted its voting stance.
According to the approved provision, during 2026, the Government will take necessary measures to complete public residences planned by the PNAES [National Plan for Higher Education Accommodation] for the Porto district, including residences in Asprela, Boa Hora, ESTG Felgueiras, Campos II, and Breiner.
Also in the final voting, PAN saw the approval of an initiative to include mandatory content on corruption prevention and detection in Public Administration training. The proposal pertains to the Advanced Training Program for Workers in Public Functions and the Advanced Training courses for Public Administration.
Furthermore, another PAN proposal was approved to enhance the Government’s efforts, within the scope of executing the Anti-Corruption Agenda, to optimize capacity and strengthen cooperation between sectoral administrative inspections and specialized law enforcement in the segments of prevention and repression of fraud against the State’s financial interests, corruption, and economic-financial crime.
