Marcelo says the government’s measures are a “palliative” that will “immediately give families important respite.”

The President of the Republic promised this Thursday to urgently evaluate new government measures for the housing sector, repeating that he considers the idea of ​​a temporary reduction and stabilization of mortgage payments positive.

“I will value them with an urgency justified by the social purpose, which is really to mitigate, as they say now, to minimize the consequences a little.” [da subida dos juros]who were very, very strong in the lives of families,” Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said in response to reporters in New York.

The head of state emphasized that he is not yet familiar with the legislation approved by the Council of Ministers this Thursday, but repeated that the idea of ​​deferring part of the interest on housing loans looks “positive” for a certain period “for there is hope that the crisis will be overcome.”

According to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, since the government cannot “get straight to the fundamental cause”, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) interest rate policy and control of inflation across Europe is taking a “palliative” that allows it to “take a breath”. “.

“Regardless of everything, this is an immediate respite for families while they wait for the underlying situation to improve,” he added.

The President of the Republic once again noted that this measure also has “some political consequences” and is important to “eliminate arguments from populists and the most controversial people who, faced with a similar situation during the European elections, would have a very attractive argument for criticism here and electoral campaign.”

“But, judging by what I read in the Council of Ministers, there are still measures regarding the terms of new contracts. Only after studying this will I, naturally, be able to give comments,” he emphasized.

This Thursday, the Council of Ministers approved a decree-law that establishes an exceptional temporary fixing measure that “allows to reduce and stabilize the premium paid by mortgage borrowers for a period of two years.”

According to the Council of Ministers, “borrowers of loan agreements for the purchase or construction of permanent own housing, as well as work on the construction of permanent own housing, guaranteed by a mortgage (with a variable interest rate), will now be able to determine the revision of the payment by establishing the corresponding value obtained as a result of the application of the index, which corresponds to 70% of the 6-month Euribor rate, plus the contractual “spread”, keeping other terms of the loan agreement unchanged.”

According to the government, “the difference between the payment that was due under the terms of the contract and the payment resulting from the correction now provided is paid later and can be amortized in advance without any commission or charge to the borrower.”

At this Thursday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers, another decree-law was approved, “which expands the scope of application and simplifies the requirements for access to support when providing loan agreements,” the statement said.