Four international media freedom organisations have written to Portugal's prime minister demanding that the government halt publication of new media legislation until proper consultation takes place. Their letter, sent earlier this month, has received no acknowledgement from Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's office.
The signatories — the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the European Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, and the Media Freedom Rapid Response coalition — are calling for a meeting before any further laws affecting the press are enacted.
LUSA statutes at the centre of dispute
The friction centres on changes to the statutes of LUSA, Portugal's state-owned news agency, introduced by the Portuguese government in January 2026. The Portuguese Journalists' Union argues these amendments breach the European Media Freedom Act.
Three provisions have drawn particular criticism. The new governance model allows the government to directly appoint the agency's Board of Directors. A newly established oversight body will be dominated by political appointees. Editors must now report to the Portuguese Parliament, a requirement journalists say threatens editorial independence.
On 30 June, the Portuguese Journalists' Union filed a formal complaint with the European Commission. The union argues the changes violate Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act, which protects the independent functioning of public service media, and Article 4(2), which safeguards editorial independence.
Government policy review raises broader questions
The dispute forms part of a wider government review of media legislation under its new media policy for 2025–2029. Prime Minister Montenegro has said the measures aim to strengthen information quality and safeguard citizens' freedom of choice.
However, the 2026 Media Pluralism Monitor report identified structural vulnerabilities in Portugal's media framework. Defamation remains a criminal offence, a provision critics say can suppress journalistic inquiry. Anti-SLAPP legislation has not been adopted, leaving journalists exposed to lawsuits designed to silence critical reporting. Whistleblower protections remain weak.
The report also called for stronger transparency obligations for digital platforms and clearer public disclosure of media ownership.
Press freedom groups document lack of engagement
The September 2026 briefing from the Media Freedom Rapid Response highlights what it calls press freedom violations across Europe, including Portugal. The organisations note that previous submissions to the Portuguese Ombudsman, the Portuguese Media Regulatory Authority, and the Portuguese Parliament have produced no substantive government response.
The Portuguese Journalists' Union has boycotted the prime minister's public statements since March, citing what it calls a "no-question policy" that prevents journalists from challenging official announcements.
A public consultation on the Media Transparency Law took place earlier this year, though the 2026 Rule of Law Report noted widespread criticism of the process. Work continues on a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, adopted in March 2025.
A Maltese reader following press freedom debates will recognise parallels: questions about political appointments to media boards, the criminalisation of defamation, and whether government consultations are genuine or procedural.
Whether the Portuguese prime minister's office will respond to the latest letter remains open.
