Searches related to operation Lumen were confirmed by Lisbon City Hall, which stated cooperation with authorities and noted uncertainty about whether the detained public employee is a city employee.

A Municipal Assembly session discussed the detention, with the Bloco de Esquerda requesting explanations about internal controls, disciplinary measures, and forthcoming audits.

In December, Lisbon announced a 749,500-euro investment in Christmas illuminations through a 2025 protocol with UACS, mirroring 2023 and 2024 budgets, with the 182-kilometre setup across multiple locations.

Authorities detained four individuals linked to a corruption scheme involving the supply and installation of festive lighting, with investigations spanning 10 municipalities including Lisbon and several others, targeting active and passive corruption, abuse of power, and criminal association.

The operation, named Lumen, executed 26 search warrants across public and private entities, aiming at uncovering illicit access to privileged information in exchange for rewards to adjudicating entities for roughly eight million euros in contracted work.

Lisbon’s Christmas lighting contracts are handled through a protocol with the Union of Trade and Services Associations (UACS), not directly by the city, and authorities are examining whether a city employee is involved.

A request for accountability was filed by a Lisbon councilor from the Bloco de Esquerda, seeking details on anti-corruption measures announced by the Lisbon City Hall in 2022 and how they have been implemented since then.

City Hall of Lisbon emphasized it does not directly contract lighting works; the UACS coordinates the contracts, and the city is cooperating with investigators while clarifying the employment status of any detained official.

Opposition party PSD Lisboa urged presumption of innocence for the secretary-general and argued against citizens substituting the courts for judicial processes.

Ongoing political scrutiny calls for accountability in governance and internal controls under Mayor Carlos Moedas’ administration.

Câmaras de Viseu has fully cooperated with the Polícia Judiciária since the investigation began.

Lisbon City Hall is monitoring the investigations calmly and will act based on forthcoming findings from authorities.