José Manuel Fernandes, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
A new investigation by Sábado reveals that several members of the government receive income support, which exceeds 700 euros per month, despite owning houses in Lisbon.
There is a total of 19 ministers and secretaries of State and also 8 chiefs of staff who receive income support to live in Lisbon.
The housing allowance is intended for holders of government positions whose permanent residence is more than 150 kilometers from Lisbonoffsetting the costs associated with traveling and staying in the capital. In 2025, the value was around 725 euros per month.
The legal regime, created in 1980, is based on the concept of “permanent housing”: even if a government official owns or uses a house in Lisbon, he can still receive the subsidy if his main, family and tax residence remains in another city.
According to the magazine, among the current beneficiaries, there are cases of government owners who own houses in the capital. The Minister of Agriculture José Manoel Fernandes is one of these cases, having a house in Lumiar and another in Avenidas Novas, of which he declared 43 660 euros in property income. However, you are receiving a housing allowance of 724 euros.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado, also bought a house in Lisbon and continued to benefit from support as it is not considered your permanent home. Salvador Malheiro, Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, is another similar case and refuses to clarify whether he is living in the house he owns.
Another sensitive point concerns declarative obligations. The Entity for Transparency requires that political office holders must declare not only the properties they own, but also also rental situationslending or housing management. However, of the 19 governors in question, only Minister Carlos Abreu Amorim and Secretaries of State Rui Rocha and Cláudia Sarrico specify the conditions under which they live in Lisbon.
There are also 12 secretaries of State and six heads of cabinet who receive subsidy without having houses Lisbonas well as ministers Fernando Alexandre and Carlos Abreu Amorim.
