Portugal's Interior Minister Luís Neves is under investigation by the public prosecutor over a trailer intended for synthetic drug production that ended up at the premises of a business associate, João dos Santos Carvalho. Simultaneously, the justice minister is auditing Neves's management of the Judiciary Police, where he previously served as director.
Neves, appointed by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Feb. 21, said he is calm and eager for the audit to proceed, rejecting suggestions the investigation is personal. The Socialist Party called the situation beyond acceptable limits, while commentators say dismissal is complicated by Neves's wildfire responsibilities and his knowledge of investigations involving the prime minister.
A former anti-terrorism chief, Neves received Spanish decorations for dismantling an ETA bomb factory in Óbidos in 2010. He has also pledged to shift wildfire spending toward year-round prevention rather than firefighting.