Prosecutors open preventive investigation into Socialist leader
He denied any wrongdoing and subsquently published all related documentation on the Socialist Party’s website under the title 'Quem não deve, não teme' (He who owes nothing fears nothing).
Portugal’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a preventive investigation into Pedro Nuno Santos, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), over suspicions related to the purchase of two properties, one in Lisbon and the other in Montemor-o-Novo.
The probe, confirmed by the Attorney General’s Office, stems from anonymous complaints concerning the source of funds used to finance the acquisitions. The case is being handled by the Central Department of Criminal Investigation and Action (DCIAP).
One complaint refers to a 2018 purchase of a Lisbon apartment valued at €740,000, which Santos bought with his wife. Part of the amount was paid upfront by his wife, with the remainder financed through a €450,000 bank loan, which was later repaid following the sale of another property he owned in Lisbon.
The second property—a country estate in Montemor-o-Novo—was acquired in 2022 for €570,000, mostly financed through another bank loan of €456,000. Santos disclosed receiving financial support from his and his wife’s parents, which he said helped fund the purchases.
Reacting to the investigation, Santos said he learned of the probe through the media, was not formally notified, and emphasized that the properties and related transactions were already publicly detailed in earlier reports.
He denied any wrongdoing and subsquently publishing all related documentation on the Socialist Party’s website under the title Quem não deve, não teme (He who owes nothing fears nothing).
Challenge to the PM
In a nationally broadcast statement, Santos outlined the details of both real estate deals and took the opportunity to challenge Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to provide similar clarity regarding questions surrounding his family business, Spinumviva, and alleged undeclared bank accounts.
Santos stressed, “I have nothing to hide,” adding, “Unlike Luís Montenegro, I do not fear scrutiny—neither from the Public Prosecutor’s Office nor from the Portuguese people.”
This is the third time Santos has addressed the real estate issue, asserting that all financial disclosures have been fully submitted and verified by the Constitutional Court.
He also expressed a desire to be heard by prosecutors, stating, “Those who have nothing to fear, do not run.”