Government to Revise Salary Caps for High-Level Public Positions: What This Means for Portugal's Administration

Government's Initiative on Salary Caps

The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, announced on Wednesday that the government will be taking steps this semester to revise the salary limits for public officials. This decision comes in light of the difficulty in attracting candidates for high-level positions, as all shortlisted candidates for the Secretary-General position were found to earn more than the initially set salary cap.

Revising Salary Structures

Leitão Amaro stated that the government aims to initiate a review of the six existing salary regimes within public administration. He emphasized that "the country must reflect" on the public salary caps, asserting that "if we want the State to function well, it must be capable of attracting the best."

The review will address various regimes, including the status of executives and special regulations for certain public entities like the Caixa Geral de Depósitos. Amaro highlighted the need for a comprehensive reassessment, arguing that "the salaries have changed over recent years in both public and private sectors, adversely affecting public administration salaries in comparison."

Shortlist of Candidates for Secretary-General

During an inquiry in the Budget, Finance, and Public Administration Commission, Amaro responded to questions regarding the ad hoc changes to the salary definition for the Secretary-General role, which would allow for a salary higher than that of the Prime Minister. He explained that the government faced "attraction difficulties" while working on the execution of the Secretary-General's duties.

A shortlist of five candidates was created, all of whom were eligible for salaries exceeding the established limits. Amaro clarified that "the law is not tailored to Helder Rosalino's needs," referring to the former candidate who withdrew from the position amidst salary controversies.

Accusations Against the Bank of Portugal

In the same session, Amaro accused the Bank of Portugal of having "invented a justification" to avoid paying Rosalino's salary according to the government's wishes. He argued that there was no "credit concession or financial outlay" that would violate treaties, maintaining that the salary in question would not impact the Bank's economic independence.

Amaro asserted that providing a salary already accounted for in the Bank's budget for public service is entirely valid. He reiterated that "the central bank serves national interests first and foremost." Rosalino's withdrawal from the Secretary-General position followed a heated debate over the remuneration rules and the financial responsibilities between the government and the Bank of Portugal.

This article was updated at 12:16 PM.