MISSION AND
POWERS
The Ministry of Interior, MAI for short, is the Government
department vested with the power to lay down, co-ordinate, carry out
and assess policies pertaining to internal security,
supervision of election procedures, to protection and succour and
road safety, and of ensuring the Government representation on
national territory in accordance with the principle of
administrative devolution.
In the performance of its mission, MAI holds the following powers:
a) To keep public order and tranquillity;
b) To ensure the protection of the freedom and security of persons
and their assets;
c) To pre-empt and repress crime;
d) To control the movement of persons across borders, entry, stay
and residence, exit and expulsion of foreigners from
national territory against the backdrop of the migration management
policy, and appraise and decide upon the granting of equality status
and refugee status;
e) To control the importation, manufacture, marketing, licensing,
holding and use of weapons, ammunition and explosives without
prejudice to the specific powers of the National Defence Ministry;
f) To regulate, check and control private surveillance activities;
g) To organise, carry out and technically assist in electors’
registration, and in election and referendum procedures;
h) To pre-empt catastrophes and major accidents, and to protect and
succour victim populations;
i) To promote road safety and ensure traffic control;
j) To ensure Government representation on national territory in
accordance with the principle of administrative devolution;
l) To adopt any regulatory measures that may suit the internal
security polities laid down by Parliament and the Government, and to
study, draw and monitor the enforcement of integrated regulatory
measures in the area of internal affairs;
m) To ensure ongoing relations in the area of internal affairs with
the European Union, other Governments and international
organisations against the background of the aims established for the
Portuguese external policy and without prejudice to the specific
powers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The MAI performs its mission through the Civil Governments, security
services and forces and other direct administration bodies.
