“Time off is granted to workers who perform public functions in the services of the direct administration of the State, whether central or deconcentrated, and in public institutes, on February 13, 2024”, reads the order to which the Lusa agency had access to.

In this order, as in previous years, the Prime Minister once again highlights that, “although Carnival Tuesday is not on the list of mandatory holidays stipulated by law, there is a consolidated tradition in Portugal of organizing parties during this period ”.

With regards to February 13th, “services and bodies that, for reasons of public interest, must remain in operation during that period are excluded, under terms to be defined by the competent member of the Government”.

“Without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the service to be provided, the top managers of the services and bodies referred to in the previous paragraph must promote the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance for their respective workers, on a date to be determined in due course”, the diploma adds.

Since António Costa took office as Prime Minister in November 2015, the only time he did not sign the order for time off to be given on Carnival Tuesday was three years ago, as the country was in lockdown due to the pandemic.