Foreign Minister stated today that Portugal must adapt to the recruitment policies of certain countries concerning the staffing of diplomatic missions, advocating for the hiring of Portuguese nationals to alleviate potential issues.
During a parliamentary hearing on the State Budget for 2026, Paulo Rangel addressed Deputy Ricardo Dias Pinto (Chega) on the matter of employing non-Portuguese staff in Portuguese diplomatic missions in countries like Russia and Iran, elaborating on the specific rules in some nations.
The deputy argued that hiring local staff in Portugal’s institutions exposes Portuguese citizens requiring consular services to “great vulnerability.”
“These roles should be entrusted to duly accredited Portuguese personnel,” he insisted.
Paulo Rangel reiterated that Portuguese and non-Portuguese staff are present in all diplomatic missions and highlighted that some countries have “very specific rules.”
In Russia, he exemplified, employees can only be hired through a state-created company.
“We have to comply with the given framework, which may impose constraints,” he remarked, adding, “We can mitigate some impacts of this less transparent environment by deploying more Portuguese diplomats or staff, where accepted.”
Later, Deputy Rodrigo Saraiva (IL) revisited the topic, deeming Russia’s creation of this employment company “unacceptable.”
Paulo Rangel responded, noting that this system already exists in China.
“IL assumes in certain viewpoints that Portugal operates like an NGO. Portugal is a state and must manage its relations with state-level considerations,” the minister stated.
