The PSD presented on Tuesday as its main proposals for changes to the 2024 state budget the priorities presented in October before the political crisis, since “the problems of the Portuguese have not changed.”
Among the five priorities presented then, translated into 12 measures, are a reduction in the IRS to level eight, a maximum IRS rate of 15% for youth, measures in the areas of health care and housing, and a complete replacement of teachers’ working hours. , step by step, over five years.
“The problems of the Portuguese have not changed because the elections will take place, our proposals are aimed at helping to solve these problems that the Portuguese are facing,” defended the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, at a press conference in parliament. Assembly of the Republic.
When asked whether the PSD (if it is the government) intends to implement these measures in the amended budget for 2024, Miranda Sarmento replied that they “will be part of the PSD action plan for the next legislature.”
“We will be looking to implement this during the next legislature, in a government that may have a four-year horizon,” he said.
Among the more than 200 proposals submitted by the PSD for discussion in the specialty, Miranda Sarmento highlighted the cancellation of the planned increase in the unified turnover tax (IUC), the abolition of the emergency contribution for local placement and the tax incentive mechanism for savings. up to one hundred thousand euros.
Miranda Sarmento stated that she had not made contact with the CoP regarding these proposals, believing that the dialogue would now take place on a specialty basis.
“The position of the SDP has not changed, we have always said that we have an answer for the country and we have always been available for agreements with the PS on measures on a broader time scale,” he assured.
As for the quantitative assessment of the measures, the parliamentary leader of the PSD considered that their impact on the budget is “perfectly combined” with the increase in tax revenues due to inflation, which were higher than expected at 4 billion euros in 2023.
According to the parliamentary leader of the PSD, in addition to translating into proposals 12 measures identified as priorities, the party also presented others that aimed at “increasing the efficiency of public services, European funds and the desire to reduce public spending,” which, according to him, was “a reduction in budgetary consequences.”
Asked whether the PSD could be accused of wanting to “give everything to everyone” on the eve of the elections, Miranda Sarmento replied that the party “was cautious” and introduced, above all, program rules that allow the next government to decide, as in the case of “the possibility studying public service competitions.”
Regarding teachers, the PSD proposal stipulates that the government “will make public the budgetary cost for the full replacement of teachers’ service experience (6 years, 6 months and 23 days) by publication on the Ministry of Education website. Education”.
“The government will begin in 2024 the process of replacing teachers’ seniority records at a rate of 20% per year, ensuring full replacement within five years,” the text says.
Asked whether the PSD would agree to change the proposal if, if it reaches the government, it finds that there are no conditions for its implementation, Miranda Sarmento confirmed the willingness to carry out a complete replacement, given the overall cost estimate of “between 250 and 300 million euros.” “.
In October, “without assuming that there could be a political crisis, the resignation of the government and the calling of early elections,” the SDP presented five priorities for the state budget for 2024, even before the government presented its proposal.
The first involves strengthening family incomes and includes reducing the IRS to level eight and setting a maximum IRS rate for youth, and the second through economic competitiveness, with a reduction in the IRC to 19% and a tax exemption for productivity bonuses.
In the housing sector, the SDP once again proposes a program to support the purchase of a first home for young people with a state guarantee and a pass-through reduction in taxes on the purchase of a house, and in the health sector – direct contracts with the population and the social sector and the private sector to guarantee the availability of a family doctor and reduce waiting lists .
In the education sector, in addition to recovery time, PSD proposes introducing an IRS deduction for living expenses for teachers who travel more than 70 kilometers from their place of residence, as well as strengthening the recovery program for teaching.
The President of the Republic has called early elections for March 10 after the resignation of the government, which will only be formalized in December, so that the budget can still be approved.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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