The Minister of State and Reform, Gonçalo Matias, acknowledged the need for state reform in Portugal, assuring during an interview on RTP3 on Wednesday that the government’s aim is to implement this reform without “job cuts.”
“There is a huge desire for reform because people feel the state is cumbersome, slow, and unresponsive to their needs,” stated Gonçalo Matias, highlighting the situation for businesses, suggesting that Portuguese entrepreneurs face a “disadvantage” in “bureaucratic tasks” compared to other countries.
The minister further noted that “a Portuguese entrepreneur loses a quarter of the year dealing with bureaucracy,” adding that one of this government’s ambitions is to make Portugal one of the most digitally advanced countries in Europe.
What will the state reform look like?
The minister admitted there are “various interpretations of what state reform should be” but shared the current government’s perspective:
“Our interpretation of state reform is to have a state that puts citizens and businesses at the heart of public concern. That is our interpretation (…). It’s not about firing people, reinventing the state, or imploding it,” he explained.
He emphasized the government’s belief in the importance of the state, acknowledging its “significant role at various points” in recent history.
However, he stressed the “importance of the state performing well in its duties, serving citizens and businesses efficiently, making timely decisions, not hindering economic activity, and being a catalyst for that activity.”
Portugal requires a “profound reform”
In the same interview, considering the current circumstances, Gonçalo Matias expressed that “a profound reform is needed” because the “state’s structure is outdated.“
“This involves a strategy that we call the ‘Guidelines for Ministry Reform,’ which operates on two levels,” he mentioned, revealing that the government is “working with all ministers” and “several ministries are eager to proceed.”
Then, “in a second phase,” a “comprehensive and exhaustive survey will be conducted, entity by entity, in all ministries.”
“We will examine each entity within various ministries, discussing direct and indirect administration (…) to understand what they do, how many employees they have, the services offered to citizens, service efficiency, waiting times, and where bottlenecks exist,” he stated.
The State Reform Minister also noted that as crucial as understanding the situation of public employees is “knowing the efficiency of public services.”
The Minister of State and Reform announced today that the government will soon launch a “one-stop shop for businesses” and revise various licensing processes, including urban planning, to reduce construction timelines.
Lusa | 23:14 – 30/08/2025
