Pedro Nuno Santos ‘optimistic about talks’ on state budget, but not afraid of elections

Pedro Nuno Santos explained this Wednesday in an interview with NOW that he is not afraid to go to the polls if the state budget is not approved.

“I am not afraid to go to the elections,” said the leader of the Socialist Party (PS), placing responsibility for the viability of the budget on the government.

“If the government is not willing to openly give in, then we will have difficulties. [em viabilizar]”, he added.

Pedro Nuno Santos said the Socialist Party could not approve the budget, but acknowledged that he had made it viable. “We are prepared to give in on many things,” he added.

“The government does not have an absolute majority, and this has consequences. A relative majority requires negotiations. We work in good faith. The government must listen to other parties and must give in. To have a position on this issue, if PS wants to make it viable, there must be PS brands,” he explained.

Although Pedro Nuno Santos did not specify specific requirements to ensure the viability of the budget, he listed the areas most important to the Socialists, such as education, social security and taxes.

Recalling a theme that has gained prominence in the State of the Nation debate, the PS leader stressed that the government’s concessions on the IRC issue would not be enough to encourage the Socialists to endorse the OE. “This is not a measure that makes the OE,” he said.

However, Pedro Nuno Santos noted: “I approach these negotiations with optimism.”

The MP recalled old budget discussions with the Left Bloc and the PCP to emphasize that “negotiations are not conducted in the media.”

Pedro Nuno Santos, who admitted that he had already spoken to Luis Montenegro after the State of the Nation debate, admitted that he did not like the parliamentary prime minister’s position.

“The attitude towards the opposition is terrible,” he concluded.