Lisbon, Oct. 8, 2026 (Lusa) - Lusa news agency editor-in-chief Luísa Meireles will leave the agency's News Department after accepting an offer from the Board of Directors to step down.

«I finished signing my agreement to terminate my employment contract this morning. I will be leaving on 12 January,» she said in a statement to the newsroom today, explaining that the decision comes after the situation had become «unsustainable over time».

She said that the News Directorate (DI) had always sought to act as a «bridge and a buffer» between the newsroom and the Board, maintaining that, during the eight years she held the post, she had fully respected journalists' editorial freedom.

She reported that, during the hearing of Lusa's Board of Directors chair, Joaquim Carreira, at parliament on 29 September, she witnessed «a dismissal [...] on air», on the grounds that she would reach «the legal limit for holding this post», as well as a «possible conflict of interest arising from her role as chair of the Professional Journalists' Registration Commission (CCPJ)».

In response to MP Paulo Lopes Silva of the PS, Joaquim Carreira stated that «no intention to change the News Directorate has been communicated to Lusa», but added that «the current editor-in-chief is reaching the legal age limit [for the post] and also holds a position on the Commission».

He also acknowledged that «there may be changes», arising from possible «conflicts of interest», but that the situation «remains under clarification».

The Chair of the Board stated at the time that «this Board of Directors has addressed these conflicts», with the CCPJ also «managing this process».

When questioned about the «administrative decisions that allow the Board of Directors to interfere in editorial matters», referred to in a previous hearing by the elected members of Lusa's Editorial Board, Joaquim Carreira rejected the argument and explained that there had been «a discussion between the Board of Directors and the News Directorate regarding potential staff for certain areas».

Afterwards, Luísa Meireles sought clarification from the Board of Directors, which, according to the director, proposed that she leave, a proposal she ultimately accepted.

«My answer is: I'm leaving. I accept your proposal, and I'm leaving this week,» she stated.

Regarding the fact that her departure comes about one month before her 70th birthday, the newsroom asked Luísa Meireles «what the rush» was on the part of the Board of Directors, to which she replied that she did not know the reason.

«A new chapter,» the director said, quoting the Board of Directors.

In her statement to the newsroom, she also defended editorial autonomy, saying the agency's «independence» and «autonomy» are now «in the hands» of the journalists.

She also thanked the News Department team and the agency's journalists, acknowledging that she had «certainly made mistakes», but had also «learnt a great deal» from the newsroom whilst carrying out her duties.

Since February, Luísa Meireles has served as editor-in-chief at Lusa and chairs the CCPJ.

PYR/ADB // ADB.

Lusa