The PSD president accused the government this Monday in Santarém of “strongly punishing the middle class” by “removing incentives to use” savings certificates, a measure that “once again runs counter to the interests of the majority of Portuguese”.
Luis Montenegro, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to the National Agricultural Fair in Santarém, once again accused the government of “an attitude of complete disrespect for the middle class, for small savers, for those who do not have the economic opportunity to risk other financial investments.”
The leader of the Social Democrats reacted to the change in the rules for savings certificates that came into effect this Monday by suspending the series with a maximum rate of 3.5% and creating another one with a lower rate of 2.5%.
Stating that the state should “give the Portuguese the opportunity to save and prevent their future”, Montenegro said that this decision “is in the interests of the bank” and “perhaps the interests of the government”, which are “legitimate”, but they must be agreed “with the interests of the people and, in this particular case, people who are not big capitalists, big savers and see this tool as a stronghold to be able to make some profit and feel safe.”
“When the government prevents the use of this tool, it naturally severely punishes the middle class,” he said.
Responding to a question about the call of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, for banks to better reward deposits, Montenegro stated that “Portuguese banks should follow the evolution that is already being felt throughout Europe, to increase the value of deposits, namely term deposits, savings.”
“We want the bank to be competitive, reliable, no one here is demanding unprofitable activities from the bank, no one here wants our financial system to face difficulties, we want a fair balance,” they said.
The leader of the Social Democrats recalled that interest rates are high for people, families and companies “who pay more for their loans”, and it is “fair to demand” from banking institutions the same attitude towards supplies, with “greater returns”. on bank deposits”, as is customary “a little all over Europe”.
“Today we are in the tail of the profitability of bank deposits and there,” he said.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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