Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves is facing scrutiny following revelations that he hired a contractor, João Carvalho, to perform personal work on a property in Odemira while the same contractor had previously held public contracts with the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) during Neves’ tenure as national director. The minister, who confirmed the personal relationship with the contractor, has declined to provide receipts for the 5 mil euros paid in cash for the project.
Contractor Ties and Personal Construction Work
The controversy centers on construction work at a property Neves purchased in 2024. According to the minister, he invited João Carvalho to the Alentejo site to provide a “friend’s opinion” and subsequently hired him for tasks including building walls, a bathroom, a porch, and a parking area. Neves acknowledged that he did not formalize the arrangement with a written contract, citing his personal trust in the builder.
Neves estimates the total cost of the project will fall between 20 and 30 mil euros. While thousands of euros in invoices have been registered on the e-Fatura portal under his wife’s company, the minister stated these documents represent material costs. Regarding the 5 mil euros paid to Carvalho, Neves explained to the media that these were funds provided in cash during weekends for “small expenses and petty cash.”
Did You Know?
Minister Luís Neves stated that the Construbarcelos firm and João Carvalho underwent a “screening” process by the PJ security cabinet while he was national director, which he claims detected no issues regarding the contractor’s history.
Public Contracts and Professional History
Addressing potential conflicts of interest, Neves told the channel Now that between 2019 and 2023, the contractor secured 70% of his public work through the PJ. The minister maintains that he had no interaction with Carvalho during that period and that all adjudications were the result of public tenders. He emphasized that the contractor both won and lost bids during his time as director, asserting that the process remained transparent.
Reports emerged citing a 2017 investigation into the contractor regarding alleged document falsification and fraudulent insolvency. When questioned about these allegations, Neves stated he could not confirm the details but maintained that the businessman was never formally accused of these crimes.
Expert Insight:
The core of this political challenge lies in the intersection of personal informality and public office.
Possible Consequences
As the minister faces continued questions regarding the documentation of his payments, the situation may evolve in several ways. For now, the minister has indicated that he discussed the matter with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who focused the conversation on “work and focus.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Minister of Internal Administration not sign a contract for the works?
Luís Neves stated that because he considered the construction project to be “a simple thing” and had a personal friendship with the contractor, he felt he had sufficient confidence to proceed without a formal contract.
What is the total value of the invoices registered for the works?
The invoices registered on the e-Fatura portal, which the minister says cover material costs, amount to 27.483 euros.
Did the contractor have previous ties to the Polícia Judiciária?
Yes. According to the minister, the contractor João Carvalho held public contracts with the PJ while Neves was the national director, though Neves asserts these were won through public tenders and that they did not know each other at the time.
How should public officials balance personal relationships with contractors who have previously engaged in public tenders?
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