Justice Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Real Estate Holdings Amid Controversial Land Law Changes

Minister's Real Estate Interests Under Fire

Rita Alarcão Júdice, the Minister of Justice, confirmed on Sunday that she has declared her stakes in four real estate companies to the Transparency Entity. She insists there is no conflict of interest and has no intention of divesting her assets.

In a statement, Júdice emphasized that the companies she is involved with do not own any properties that could benefit from the land law changes, asserting, "There is no conflict of interest, and I do not intend to part with my personal wealth, built through my work and that of my family."

This declaration follows a report by RTP, highlighting that Júdice has a stake in four companies engaged in real estate and tourism. Notably, she owns 50% of Périplo Essencial, involved in real estate and tourism, and has been a manager there until entering the government. She also holds 50% of Pedrasgest, which operates in the same sectors, 30% of Canforeira, a property trading company, and 11% in Stone SPA, which combines beauty institute services with real estate.

As the Parliament discusses changes to the land law, which allows for the reclassification of rural land to urban for housing, several government members and deputies have stakes in real estate. For instance, the Minister of Labor, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, has a majority stake in a consultancy firm that manages real estate, while Manuel Castro Almeida, the Minister for Cohesion, recently held shares in a real estate company.

The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, previously founded a consultancy and real estate firm but claims there is no conflict of interest as he transferred his shares to his wife in 2022.

During a parliamentary discussion on a motion of censure against the government, Montenegro justified his company’s scope as related to consultancy and inherited rural land, dismissing any connection to the legislative changes.

The censure motion was rejected, with only votes from Chega and abstentions from the PCP, amid allegations that Chega deputies also have real estate interests.

The voting on amendments to the decree-law that allows for the reclassification of rural land is scheduled for Wednesday, with proposals from various parties, including PSD. The law took effect on January 29, after resolutions to end its enforcement by the BE, PCP, Livre, and PAN were rejected.

The PS abstained from voting after the government and PSD accepted key socialist amendments to avert revocation, which were proposed alongside modifications from Chega, social democrats, BE, IL, and Livre.