Portuguese minister rejects SIRESP scandal as emails contradict his version of deputy's resignation

Minister's defiant defence

Portugal's Minister of Internal Affairs, Luís Neves, mounted a vigorous public defence of his decision to reappoint Major-General Paulo Viegas Nunes as president of SIRESP — the country's Integrated System of Emergency and Security Networks. Speaking to journalists in Cascais on Tuesday, Neves declared himself 'anxious to go to Parliament' and insisted he is not susceptible to pressure. 'I am not pressureable,' he stated, adding that he would have been 'ashamed of myself as a public servant' had he not made the appointment.

There is not a single fact that tarnishes the seriousness, integrity and transparent manner of this man with credentials in public administration, the military and at SIRESP.

The minister revealed he had consulted widely before settling on Viegas Nunes — speaking to people from the intelligence services, the military, communications and emergency communications sectors. 'Everyone, absolutely everyone, was unanimous that this man was the right person,' Neves said.

The resignation that sparked the crisis

The controversy centres on the resignation of António Pombeiro, the deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI). Pombeiro submitted his first resignation request on 28 April, which was not accepted, and a second on 22 May — the very day the government confirmed Viegas Nunes's appointment to the SIRESP presidency.

The MAI initially claimed Pombeiro's first resignation was for reasons unrelated to Viegas Nunes and predated knowledge of the appointment. However, emails obtained by Lusa news agency and reported by CNN Portugal directly contradict this version. In his 28 April correspondence with the minister's office, Pombeiro explicitly cited irregularities at SIRESP during Viegas Nunes's previous tenure and criticised the general's governance model.

An episode occurred that is likely to constitute a conflict of interest. In the days preceding his departure, Carlos Leitão tried to promote the signing of a consultancy contract for ISO 27001 certification monitoring at SIRESP S.A., to be provided by himself through an entity with which he had a direct family relationship.

Alleged irregularities detailed

Pombeiro's emails, addressed to the minister's chief of staff Joana Araújo and deputy Valentina Marcelino, outlined several concerns. These included the attempted consultancy contract by former technical director Carlos Leitão involving a family member — a matter referred to the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration in November 2025. He also flagged the direct-award hiring of private consultant Leonel Simões at €8,400 per month plus VAT, allegedly following an unsolicited application, noting a 'close personal relationship' between Simões and Brigadier-General Viegas Nunes.

Pombeiro stressed the need for 'a transparent governance model' at SIRESP and warned against what he saw as Viegas Nunes's attempts to bring the emergency network closer to the Armed Forces sphere.

Political pressure mounts

The right-wing Chega party, led by André Ventura, announced it possesses documentary evidence showing the minister's deputy attempted to 'alter/condition' the SIRESP report before its public release. Chega demanded Neves 'provide all clarifications raised publicly and draw consequences' regarding his deputy's conduct. Both Chega and the Liberal Initiative have called for the minister to appear before Parliament.

Neves addressed the email controversy directly, claiming Pombeiro had initially thought his expertise was being questioned but 'quickly understood and thanked' the minister's office after it was explained the document needed to be comprehensible to the media and the public. The minister insisted Pombeiro 'continued to do his job well' after the exchange and only resigned definitively on Friday when personally informed of Viegas Nunes's appointment.

Audit findings and the minister's stance

Neves repeatedly referenced a December 2024 audit by the Inspectorate-General of Finance covering SIRESP's 2022–2024 period — Viegas Nunes's previous presidency. The minister maintained the audit 'did not point to illegalities' and that any procedural non-conformities identified 'were fully corrected.' Drawing on his 30-year career in the Judiciary Police, Neves posed a rhetorical question: 'Which public body has never had to correct procedures?'

Forget about it. The people who say that will have to demonstrate in the proper place what that connection is: cronies, children, baptisms? That has no place here, it is an untruth, a fallacy, a monstrosity that has no basis whatsoever.

The minister dismissed suggestions of improper personal connections involving Viegas Nunes as 'a monstrosity' and insisted the general's career was 'untouchable, of seriousness, of work, of work for the collective.'