Portugal’s civic freedoms “under pressure from far-right surge, police abuses”

Portugal thankfully remains one of Europe’s most open countries for civic freedoms, yet a new report warns that the country’s democratic space is shrinking amid the rise of the far-right, increasing hate crime, police abuses and growing pressure on civil society organisations.

The report, published on by the European Civic Forum and the Civic Space Observatory, classifies Portugal’s civic space as “open” albeit conditions “deteriorated significantly during 2025”.

“Despite its relatively positive ranking, there has been a substantial deterioration in civic freedoms,” the report explains.

Among chief concerns are what the text describes as abusive policing of peaceful protests, violations of data privacy, chronic underfunding of non-governmental organisations, rising anti-immigration rhetoric and the growing influence of the far-right.

The authors warn that the “normalisation of xenophobic narratives”, particularly targeting immigrants, is contributing to an increase in hate crime and creating “a hostile environment for the defence of human rights”.

The report also argues that new migration and nationality reforms, administrative dysfunction, insecure funding and soaring property prices are making it increasingly difficult for civic organisations to operate.

“Cultural and community organisations are being forced to close because of gentrification and real estate speculation,” it says, adding that these pressures fall disproportionately on migrants, racialised communities, grassroots groups and organisations supporting the most vulnerable people.

The study highlights what it calls increasing intimidation, discrimination and police violence, citing raids on an LGBTQI+ community in Loures that allegedly took place without judicial warrants and involved physical assaults and homophobic insults before the group’s eviction.

It also says housing costs are placing many associations under constant threat of closure, while accusing successive governments of failing to introduce effective measures to protect community organisations from being priced out of their premises.

The report praises Porto City Council’s intervention to safeguard artists working at the city’s STOP shopping centre as a positive example of preserving civic freedomes, but says similar support is largely absent elsewhere in Portugal.

It further argues that civil society organisations face a “structural financial sustainability crisis”, noting that a quarter of Portugal’s private social solidarity institutions (IPSS) now operate with annual budget deficits, despite the increasing demand for their services.

The report also raises concerns about media freedom. While freedom of expression remains legally protected, it says journalists face increasing economic pressures, media concentration, precarious working conditions that encourage self-censorship, and an environment of threats and disinformation.

One of the report’s strongest criticisms concerns the rise of the far-right, particularly the growing influence of the CHEGA party.

It says CHEGA’s electoral rise has been accompanied by “xenophobic, racist and homophobic” rhetoric, amplified online and increasingly echoed in parliament.

According to the authors, parliamentary protections afforded under freedom of expression have provided “an institutional shield for the radicalisation of public discourse”, allowing extremist narratives to become part of mainstream political debate.

“Extremist discourse is no longer marginal,” the report concludes. “It has become an institutional voice with parliamentary speaking time, public funding and legal protections.“

The report also criticises the removal of the chapter on “Extremism and Hybrid Threats” from Portugal’s latest Internal Security Report (RASI) – arguing that authorities should pay closer attention to the alleged presence of neo-Nazi elements within the country’s security forces, which it describes as “a serious threat to the rule of law”.

Among recommendations are the creation of an independent mechanism to investigate institutional racism and the unlawful use of force by police, a stable funding framework for civil society organisations, greater resources for Portugal’s Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination, stronger responses to hate crime, increased support for local and community journalism, and tougher action by digital platforms against online incitement to violence.

Of the 34 European countries assessed, Portugal is one of 12 classified as having an “open” civic space. Fourteen were rated “narrowed”, seven “obstructed” and one, Serbia, “repressed”. The report notes that France, Germany and Italy all saw their classifications downgraded during the past year.

Across Europe, the authors conclude that restrictions on civil society are becoming increasingly institutionalised, while the criminalisation of protest movements and solidarity with migrants and refugees is evolving into a broader structural trend.

By coincidence, Portugal is sending a representative to Washington this week, to attend a meeting on the perceived resurgence of ‘far-left terrorism’ (when most countries invited say they are not really aware of it…)

Source material: LUSA