The announcement was made by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, at the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting.

"It is a measure that is justified by established practice and habit," he said since Carnival Tuesday is not an official holiday.

Therefore, he explained, the government renews this decision to grant a day off on this date, highlighting that the order applies “to entities under the direct administration of the State and to public institutes”.

“Of course, all those entities that, for reasons of public interest, need to keep services running are subject to a different regime,” he said, and in these cases, employees will be entitled to a day of compensation on another date.