Council of Ministers appoints new members to ARTE and Public Construction

The Council of Ministers approved, in the meeting of August 20, 2026, two appointments for top positions in public management, published in the 1st series of the Diário da República no. 166, of August 27, 2026. The decisions are contained in Council of Ministers Resolution no. 173/2026 and Council of Ministers Resolution no. 174/2026, both signed by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and take effect on October 1, 2026.

Designation at ARTE, I. P.

By Council of Ministers Resolution no. 173/2026, the Government designated Luís de Bernardes Rebelo to the position of member of the steering committee of the Agency for the Technological Reform of the State (ARTE, I. P.), upon the proposal of the Minister of State and Finance and the Deputy Minister and for State Reform. The same resolution dismissed, at his request, João Carlos Roque Fernandes, who had been designated by Council of Ministers Resolution no. 14/2026, of January 21.

The designation was preceded by a favorable opinion from the Recruitment and Selection Commission for Public Administration, under the terms of the Public Manager Statute. The new member was further authorized to accumulate teaching duties in public higher education institutions or institutions of public interest, provided it is during hours that do not conflict with the exercise of executive functions.

• Born on July 3, 1987;
• Integrated Master’s in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (2013);
• Master’s in Economics and Innovation Management from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (2020);
• Experience as an assistant in the European Parliament and as a manager at Cleantech for Europe and Cleantech Iberia.

Appointment at Construção Pública, E. P. E.

By Council of Ministers Resolution no. 174/2026, the Government appointed Lucina Fernandes Carvalho to the position of member of the board of directors of Construção Pública, E. P. E., for the 2025-2027 triennium, upon the proposal of the Government members responsible for the areas of finance, housing, and education. The appointment was likewise preceded by a favorable evaluation from the Recruitment and Selection Commission for Public Administration.

The company’s board of directors, under the terms of its Statutes approved by Decree-Law no. 41/2007, of February 21, is composed of a chairperson and two to four members. The chairperson and two members had already been appointed by Council of Ministers Resolution no. 1-C/2025, of January 14.

• Born on March 5, 1983, in São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon;
• Master’s in Architecture from the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon (2007);
• Acting Chief of Staff for the Secretary of State for Housing of the XXV Constitutional Government;
• Experience as an architect in offices and companies in Lisbon, London, and Algiers.

Impact on public management

The two appointments strengthen the management team of two central entities for the modernization of the State and for housing and public works policy. Taking office on October 1, 2026, ensures the continuity of the activity of ARTE, I. P., following the end of the previous board member’s mandate, and completes the board of directors of Construção Pública, E. P. E., in the current three-year management period.

Source: Diário da República, 1st series, no. 166, August 27, 2026 (official reference: Council of Ministers Resolution no. 173/2026 and Council of Ministers Resolution no. 174/2026).