Livre protects the state as a 100% guarantor for the purchase of your first home. For Montenegro this is a “big risk”

Youth was one of the main topics raised during Saturday’s debate in TVI between Ruy Tavares, leader of Livre, and Luis Montenegro, leader of the Democratic Alliance.

Luis Montenegro supported the Democratic Alliance’s proposals to set the IRS cap at 15% for young people aged 18 to 35. This measure, according to Rui Tavares, may not be very fair, since it provides an example of a 36-year-old with a lower income than a 35-year-old being forced to pay a higher rate.

According to the leader of Livre, it is necessary to help young people buy a house, while “the state makes a down payment for the purchase of housing through a public fund.”

The “big risk” for the Portuguese economy is considered by Luis Montenegro, who argues that the guarantees provided by the state should not be 100%.

“Because it creates such a sense of security in the market that it increases the price.” [das casas] (…). And then it increases exponentially, and the amounts are so exorbitant that I don’t think anyone who proposed it has enough zeros in their head to be able to pay,” he criticized.

According to Montenegro, an income tax exemption should be applied to the purchase of a first home, and a tax reduction should also be applied.

For his part, Rui Tavares defended the Livre measure, which consists of public financing of up to 30% of the market value of a property in the form of an equity loan to help with the down payment and costs of buying a first home. intended for own and permanent housing, presenting in return a guarantee from a guarantor.

As for the youth remaining in Portugal, the parties are not serious opponents. Both defend the benefits of a four-day workweek, which is more attractive to retain younger age groups and has positive results for a more productive economy.

“Unfortunately, there are many young people who go abroad and do not return,” Montenegro complained.

During the debate, Rui Tavares also spoke about the social inheritance system, which involves paying a deposit of, for example, five thousand euros at the birth of a child. When the young person turns 18, he will be able to access the amount.

“Livre believes that no one is born into such unfavorable conditions as to not be able to dream big,” concluded Rui Tavares.

The Social Democrat warned that some international experience points to cases where people have taken the opportunity to get a second job, arguing that “in many circumstances low wages are more relevant.”

Montenegro pushed for the introduction of a 15th month free of contributions and taxes as a way of stimulating productivity.

Pensioners expressed the same opinion. Taking into account the proposal of the Democratic Alliance to increase the minimum pension to 820 euros by 2028, Luis Montenegro stressed that “first of all we must help those who have no other income”, while Rui Tavares says that it is necessary to take into account that “There are a lot of people who haven’t paid into the social security system.”

At the face-to-face meeting, Luis Montenegro, representing the Democratic Alliance (AD, uniting PSD, CDS and PPM), defended the need for a debate on justice issues “broadly for all parties”, also involving professionals from the sector.

Referring to a recent case in which three defendants were released after 21 days in custody as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in Madeira, Luis Montenegro said the AD offers “a limit to allow the investigating judge to make a decision.” , namely in relation to coercive measures.”

“We propose that this limit should be 72 hours, and we propose that in order to comply with this, if the investigating judge ends up having to cooperate with other investigating judges, multiple people could be able to conduct investigations,” he said. explained, emphasizing the importance of “respecting the rights of the accused to defend themselves” and refusing to feel “manipulated” because PSD representatives are involved in the investigations in Madeira.

Livre spokesman Rui Tavares also agreed on the need for a “great national debate” on justice, “that goes beyond parties” and involves the judiciary.

According to a single MP, this debate should be held between the democratic parties, with the exception of Chega. The historian insisted on the importance of preventing corrupt practices, as well as combating this phenomenon after it occurs.

Both sides intend to criminalize illicit enrichment, with Luis Montenegro admitting that it has been “difficult” to overcome the problems raised by the Constitutional Court despite several attempts, but that the parties must “continue to search for a legislative solution.”