This Monday will see one of the most anticipated face-to-face debates of the Portuguese people between the main candidates for the post of head of government.
The leaders began the debate by speaking at a time of day when hundreds of police officers were protesting outside the Capitol. “Injustice was created by this government,” says Montenegro, Pedro Nuno Santos argues that “the rule of law only works with police officers.”
“On the right we saw the failure of the SDP to lead the right. The same did not happen with the left,” says Pedro Nuno Santos. The Socialist leader says his party will not put forward a motion to reject the AD unless it wins the Legislative Assembly, which he hopes “will never happen.”
Montenegro says it is prepared to govern with a relative majority and acknowledges that achieving an absolute majority is difficult. The PSD leader did not respond to a question about a possible proposal to reject the PS minority government, and Pedro Nuno says the “taboo” has yet to be clarified.
Leaders discuss economic scenario
Montenegro says that under different fiscal policies, the AD foresees a “difficult and demanding” path that will lead to economic growth of 3% at the end of the legislature. Pedro Nuno recalls that, unlike the PSD, the PS represents “an economic program designed to respond to the challenges of Portugal.”
“We will only have higher wages with a stronger economy,” the socialist argues.
The PSD leader explains how it will be possible to significantly increase the average salary in Portugal. “The PS views taxes as a source of income. PS has given up, it doesn’t trust what it has done in recent years,” he claims.
“The fact that Luis Montenegro does not respond to the debate is becoming a hallmark of the debate,” says Pedro Nuno, who claims that the Social Democrat is not specifying how he wants to raise the average salary to 1,750 euros.
Responding to a question from the representative of Montenegro, Pedro Nuno, recalling that the Portuguese economy was one of the fastest growing, said that “some things went well and others went wrong” in the measures taken on the economy in recent years.
The PS leader is once again resorting to a “fiscal adventure” as part of the measures of the Democratic Alliance.
Housing is in question
Pedro Nuno Santos clarifies that the housing problem is a “European” one. “Over the years we have taken measures, some of them have had results, others have not,” he says, before recalling that measures in the housing sector take time to have an effect.
“Our entire country is under construction. Measures are being taken to increase private construction,” adds Pedro Nuno, before mentioning that thanks to PS, many houses have been built in PSD municipalities.
Montenegro remembers that Pedro Nuno Santos promised that on April 25 not a single Portuguese would be without a home, which, according to the AD leader, is far from possible.
“It doesn’t look like he even defended housing,” Montenegro says after a brief squabble between political leaders.
“There are no landlords without tenants,” says Pedro Nuno, who argues that he does not want the state to play the role of tenants, but that rents need to be regulated.
“Intervening in the market in this way is the wrong way,” Montenegro replies.
Pedro Nuno says he defended replacing regular teachers, Montenegro accuses him of only doing so after leaving government
Montenegro says AD’s goal is to “bring peace” to schools and argues that to retain teachers, the career must be made attractive. An AD leader who “very much encourages vocational education.”
“In Portugal, 25% of students attend private schools,” says Montenegro, accusing PS of “devaluing” public schools.
Pedro Nuno said he would not reinstate exams that were canceled under Antonio Costa’s government, before once again accusing his opponent of being “lack of preparation.”
The Socialist leader recalls that between 2011 and 2015, 20 thousand teachers left schools, but Montenegro objects that “there was no shortage of teachers in schools.”
Pedro Nuno recalls that he advocated “restoring the careers of regular teachers”, but the AD leader says he only did so after leaving government. “For the doer…” says Montenegro.
“From 2011 to 2015, teaching was very good,” jokes Pedro Nuno, but Montenegro counters that there was no shortage of teachers at that time.
Leaders discuss health
Pedro Nuno explains that improving quality of life has implications for the National Health Service. “We are paying the price for the lack of management. There are more problems,” he says.
“Measures must be taken now. We are in favor of strengthening home hospitalization teams, for doctors to prescribe medications, much remains to be done,” he states.
Asked about the plan to be implemented by AD in the health sector, and after Montenegro did not immediately answer the question, he is interrupted by Pedro Nuno, who says that the lack of answer is “usual”. “Don’t say that,” replies the Social Democrat.
Montenegro says the AD wants to guarantee consultations on acute illnesses “within five days”; guarantee obstetric consultations; reduce waiting time; provide the user with a voucher for personal use.
Faced with an exodus of health workers, Pedro Nuno says conditions at the SNA need to be improved and more doctors trained. “The SDP wants to decapitalize the SNA. We want to invest in our hospitals, in our health centers.”
“The PS did not want to continue the PNP due to ideological complexes and governance partners,” says Montenegro.
Pedro Nuno clarifies that the PS has no “dogmas” in working with private individuals and that the socialists want more in the SNA. “Clearly there is a path that can lead to withering [do SNS]”.
“The SNA has never been like this,” says Montenegro.
Pensions are being discussed
Montenegro suggests AD is in “reconciliation” with pensioners, but says it is not an “assumption of guilt.” The Social Democrat claims that it was the Socialist Party, led by José Sócrates, that cut pensions.
“Pensioners were laid off and then replaced. You are complicit in this decision, you were in the government,” says Montenegro.
“I guarantee that every year there will be an update in accordance with the legal criteria. I will not do what PS did with Pedro Nuno Santos.”
Pedro Nuno defends himself and says that “not a single pensioner has suffered from pension cuts. There is no pensioner who would believe his words. There were six emergency promotions.”
The Socialist leader says that Montenegro is doing “somersaults” on this issue.
Police protest at the door
Before the face-to-face meeting, the PS and PSD leaders agreed that the debate they would face each other in would be decisive for the future of the country, with a socialist warning of “failures” from the AD, which wants to be a “safe change”.
Arriving at the Cinema Capitol in Lisbon for a head-to-head match pitting him against PSD leader Luis Montenegro, representing the Democratic Alliance (which brings together the Social Democrats, CDS and PPM), PS General Secretary Pedro Nuno Santos expected the debate to be “defining Portuguese society”.
Pedro Nuno Santos said that the PS “has done very important work over the years, it has a lot to present,” stressing that “the economy has grown, wages have grown, pensions have also grown.”
“But we still have problems. We have results, we are not satisfied, and that’s why we want to keep moving forward. That’s our ambition,” he said.
The Socialist leader refused to be nervous about the debate but said he would make no secret of the fact that it would be “very important” as it would pit two “people, one of whom will be prime minister”.
Pedro Nuno Santos also said that the Democratic Alliance has “a program that represents a financial gamble and great fiscal irresponsibility.”
Luis Montenegro, who arrived a few minutes after Pedro Nuno Santos at the Capitol, considered the debate “very relevant and important to explain to the Portuguese the goals” of the candidates of the Democratic Alliance and the PS, “who are really competing for the leadership of the next government.”
“We will have the opportunity to exchange arguments and provide the Portuguese with all the necessary tools to make a choice. This choice will mark not only the next four years of the country’s existence, but also what we strive to become in the coming decades,” he emphasized.
At the entrance to the Capitol, about two dozen Socialist Youth (JS) activists, including its general secretary Miguel Costa Matos, waited for the two leaders, greeting them both with chants: “The people will vote and the PS will win.” “
Moments after the arrival of the two leaders, protest security forces (PSP and GNR) arrived at the Capitol from Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon, where a demonstration was planned for this Monday.
Author: morning Post This Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.