Portugal is dealing with a growing backlog of citizenship applications and mounting housing pressures that have contributed to street protests in major cities, according to a report published by Pravda.Ru on October 22, 2026.
The Portuguese Registration and Notary Office is facing a queue of more than 690,000 citizenship requests, representing an increase of one-third over the previous year.
The figures cited in the report indicate that people currently residing in Portugal account for 25% of applicants, while descendants of Sephardic Jews make up approximately 23%.
The growing number of applications has placed significant pressure on the country’s registry offices and their ability to process requests.
Rising Property Values Leave Housing Increasingly Unaffordable
Portugal’s reported increase in household wealth has coincided with concerns about the affordability of housing.
Over the past decade, household net assets reportedly increased by €514 billion, while the total value of real estate reached €725 billion.
However, real estate and housing market specialist Artyr Volkov told Pravda.Ru that the increase in wealth was closely linked to property valuations that have become unaffordable for many residents.
Housing Protests Spread to Lisbon and Porto
The housing crisis has contributed to demonstrations and the establishment of tent camps in central Lisbon and Porto.
According to the report, Portuguese authorities are monitoring the protests amid concerns that dissatisfaction over the cost of living could develop into organised political instability.
The Public Prosecution Service, identified in the report as PJ, and the Internal Security Service (SIS) are reportedly monitoring groups described as radical, including the Brazilian organisations Unidade Popular pelo Socialismo and Movimento Olga Benário.
The authorities’ stated concern, according to the report, is that public frustration could be channelled into wider political unrest.
Sonangol Sells BCP Shares to Avoid Ownership Threshold
Portugal’s financial sector is also facing regulatory developments involving Angolan energy company Sonangol and Portuguese bank BCP.
Sonangol reportedly sold shares in BCP to avoid increasing its ownership to 20% or more. Crossing that threshold would have triggered direct regulatory control by the European Central Bank, according to the report.
European Union Leaves €100 Billion in Recovery Funding Unused
The report also states that the European Union has failed to absorb approximately €100 billion from its recovery fund, despite formally meeting all deadlines.
The figure highlights the reported gap between compliance with administrative deadlines and the actual use of funds allocated through the recovery programme.
Pharmaceutical Companies Face New Post-Trial Treatment Obligation
A healthcare regulatory change has made it a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to continue treating patients after clinical trials have concluded.
The obligation was previously treated as a voluntary commitment but is now described as a strict legal standard intended to protect patients’ continued access to treatment.
The change establishes a formal requirement for pharmaceutical companies to maintain treatment for patients after the end of clinical studies.
