Hundreds of people demonstrated this Saturday in Lisbon against the increase in the unified turnover tax (IUC) for vehicles manufactured before 2007, under the signal of Chegi, who accuses the government of “giving with one hand and taking away with the other.”
“In this budget, IUC becomes symbolic [de Estado para 2024]because everything is contrary to what the government promised to do. He promised to protect those who have less money, who have been sacrificed in recent years, and will sacrifice those who have old cars, and these are the ones who have had the most difficulties,” Chega President Andre Ventura commented during the protest.
Protesters honked their horns in cars parked at the Marques do Pombal roundabout while several hundred protested holding Chegi flags and shouting: “It’s time, it’s time for Costa to go.”
On the stage there was a poster with a picture of Finance Minister Fernando Medina surrounded by hundred euro notes and the words “IUC increases and people pay.”
“We have an increase for all vehicles, about three percent, and then we have a sharp increase for vehicles through 2007,” Ventura criticized, adding, “No one will escape this increase in the IUC.”
“When we look at this budget, we realize that the government actually intended to lower the IRS a little bit and then increase all cross-over taxes,” the Chegi leader said, accusing the socialist chief executive of “theft and fraud.”
According to him, since the PS has an absolute majority in parliament, the party must be heard “on the street.”
“These actions will be repeated in different parts of the country until the government realizes that it cannot give with one hand and take with the other. I hope that [o primeiro-ministro] Antonio Costa understands this,” Andre Ventura promised.
The prime minister announced in parliament that a brake would be introduced in 2024 and 2025, limiting IUC increases to a maximum of 25 euros, accusing the opposition of wanting to scare the Portuguese with the tax.
This is a measure contained in OE2024 which changes the taxation rules in terms of IUC for vehicles of category A registered before 2007 and motorcycles (category E), determining that they are no longer taxed solely on the basis of cylinder capacity (so as is currently the case) is now seen as an environmental component.
OE2024 has already been generally approved, with PS voting in favor and PAN and Livre abstaining, detailed discussions are ongoing, and the deadline for parties to submit proposals for amendments to the government document ends on November 14th.