National anti-corruption agency lives on direct adjustments and has not yet issued fines

The administration of the agency, which was created in 2021, is being criticized due to its dependence on direct adjustments and a lack of human resources. The president’s use of the service car also raises doubts.

The National Anti-Corruption Agency (Menac), created in 2021 with the aim of combating corrupt practices in Portugal, has faced harsh criticism due to its inefficiency and controversial administrative practices.

Since the beginning of its operations, in the summer of 2022, the entity has not applied fines or launched any public tender, using exclusively for direct adjustments and prior consultations for the acquisition of goods and services, a practice that is seen as contradictory to its mission.

Between 2023 and 2024, only six contracts were published on the Base portal, totaling around 170 thousand euros. Of these, three were direct adjustmentsincluding the acquisition of an IT platform for almost R$73 thousand, despite only one of the companies consulted presenting a valid proposal. The agency defends itself, stating that the procedures adopted comply with the law and that the values ​​involved do not justify public tenders.

Another critical point is the difficulty in filling the staff. Only half of the 27 vacancies are occupied, a situation attributed to the impossibility of recruiting outside the public administration. THE lack of human resources is identified as an obstacle to effective supervision, one of Menac’s main functions, such as the implementation of reporting channels and codes of conduct in companies.

The agency’s president, retired judge Pires da Graça, also faces criticism for his management. THE use of service car for trips between his residence in Ponte de Sor and the headquarters in Lisbon, and the driver’s accommodation in hotels have raised questions about the transparency of expenses. Furthermore, the frequent absence of the president from the workplace has generated discomfort among employees, points out.

The Minister of Justice, Rita Júdice, recognizes the flaws and announced a reformulation of the operating model, including the reduction of the president’s term and the creation of its own staff.

The agency, which received an allocation of 2.5 million euros in 2023, has also not yet presented concrete results in the fight against corruption.