PS, Chega and IL seek dozens of hearings in inquiry into Luís Neves

Parties file their hearing lists

The parties have filed requests for the parliamentary inquiry into Luís Neves's tenure as national director of the Judiciary Police (PJ), a committee that Chega forced through and that André Ventura chairs. The Socialist Party (PS) wants to question 34 people, most of them linked to the PJ and starting with the current national director, Carlos Cabreiro. Its government names include the prime minister, Luís Montenegro, Neves himself as interior minister, justice minister Rita Júdice and former prime minister António Costa, who now presides over the European Council. The PS also asks for Costa's former chiefs of staff, Francisco André and Vítor Escária, as well as the attorney general, Amadeu Guerra, and former attorney general Lucília Gago. The list adds former PJ officials and senior prosecutors, so most names are police or judicial figures rather than politicians.

Chega, the Liberals and the PCP

Chega proposed at least 50 hearings, made up of 40 named people and 10 still to be indicated. The Liberal Initiative (IL) asked for former president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa and the Bar Association chairman João Massano. The Liberals also want Ricardo Carrilho, the former secretary-general of the interior ministry whom Neves recently dismissed. Sources disagree on the size of the IL request: Notícias ao Minuto reports 45 people, while Diário de Notícias reports about 40. Diário de Notícias also reports that the Communist Party (PCP) focuses its list on four party leaders.

Documents sought from Neves

The Liberals asked for access to Neves's personal bank statements covering his time as PJ national director, and for deeds to Alentejo estates he bought in 2024 and 2025. They also want movements on the corporate credit card used at the PJ and Via Verde toll-tag records for a vehicle seized in Operation Exotic Fruit. According to the party, these requests extend the scrutiny of the minister's assets and expenses. The inquiry's mandate is to assess Neves's conduct as PJ director across his mandates from 2018 to 2026, and any responsibility of government members who appointed and oversaw him. It follows controversies in recent months over works on a property owned by the minister, carried out by a company.

Timetable and budget overlap

The committee took office in the week of 19 October 2026. Its next meetings are a board and coordinators session on Monday, 26 October, and an ordinary sitting on Tuesday, 27 October, held two hours before the general debate on the 2027 State Budget. The inquiry's work will not pause during the budget negotiations. André Ventura of Chega presides over the committee.