The Ministry of Justice has outlined key goals for the coming year as part of its anti-corruption agenda, presented in the OE2026 report delivered to parliament today. These goals include regulating lobbying, legislative changes to seize criminal gains, and enhancing the capabilities of asset recovery and management offices.
The Ministry aims to further strengthen the recently restructured National Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MENAC) and engage in multi-year recruitment for the general inspections of Finance, Agriculture, Sea, Environment, and Spatial Planning.
In schools, the goal is to promote a “culture of integrity” through citizenship education and school sports programs.
Identified as “priority interventions” are the implementation of the security plan following the audit of 49 prisons, the strategy for the Justice Campus, whose utility for courts and the state is under government review, the phased deactivation of the Lisbon Prison, and investments in the Courts of Justice in Braga, Coimbra, Guimarães, Santa Maria da Feira, and Vila Franca de Xira.
The launch of the new São Miguel prison in the Azores and investment in infrastructures such as the northern branch of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and new facilities for the Judicial Studies Center in Vila do Conde are also listed as priorities.
The Ministry plans to continue reviewing careers and salaries in the justice sector, focusing on judicial staff, prison guards, reintegration technicians in prisons and educational centers, and registry and notary personnel.
The government is also strengthening its focus on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (ADR): “The National Strategy for ADR will be implemented, which includes expanding peace courts, bolstering public mediation, modernizing and expanding consumer arbitration through an integrated digital platform, as well as monitoring service quality and reviewing funding and management models.”
The intention to revise the Penal Enforcement Code and the Educational Tutelary Law, alongside the progressive integration of prison healthcare into the National Health Service, is reaffirmed.
Regarding social reintegration, efforts will focus on “enhancing prison labor policies, providing professional training opportunities, expanding educational and occupational offerings in establishments and educational centers, and promoting alternatives to imprisonment, such as electronic monitoring and community service.”
The government submitted OE2026 to parliament today, meeting the deadline and ahead of Sunday’s municipal elections.
In the macroeconomic scenario, the PSD/CDS-PP government foresees a GDP growth of 2% this year and 2.3% in 2026.
The executive plans to achieve surpluses of 0.3% of GDP this year and 0.1% next year. The debt ratio is projected to decrease to 90.2% of GDP by 2025 and 87.8% in 2026.
The proposal will be discussed and voted on in general on October 27-28, with the final global vote scheduled for November 27, following debate in specialized committees.
