Portugal’s Socialist Party (PS) has formally questioned the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports regarding substantial cuts to the “Merit Cultural” funding program. The PS alleges these cuts represent a significant reduction in support for cultural initiatives. Concerns center around a perceived “uniformization of criteria” for awarding funding, which the party believes will have severe consequences for artists and cultural organizations. The Socialists are seeking clarification on the rationale behind the changes and the extent of the financial reductions. They argue the new approach lacks nuance and fails to recognize the unique value of diverse cultural projects. The party emphasizes the potential for significant hardship within the cultural sector as a result of these policy shifts. Further details regarding the specific amount of the cuts and the revised criteria are currently being sought.