This Thursday, the parties accused the executive of trying to condition the freedom of the Portuguese on the new tobacco law, and Socialist MP Maria Antonia Almeida Santos believes that “there is no reason to go further.”
During parliamentary debate on the government’s proposed tobacco law, which aims to introduce new restrictions on the sale of tobacco and places where people can smoke, parties acknowledged the health risks of tobacco but criticized the proposed changes.
Socialist lawmaker Maria Antonia Almeida Santos said the government’s proposed law “combines two completely different issues that should deserve independent assessment.”
“One is the transfer to the Portuguese legal system of a European directive that only regulates the issue of different flavors, the other is about restrictions on places of sale or consumption of tobacco products, [que] is trying to make fundamental legislative changes regarding smoking prevention and goes well beyond the directive,” he said.
The deputy considered it justified to “amend the law in order to transpose the directive [europeia] questionable, but despite all the other arguments used, there is no basis, evidence or urgency to go further,” noting that overall it is still a debate.
“Regarding the issue of prohibitions, it is clear that no one likes to have rights, freedoms and guarantees in such an impressive way,” and asked that “improvements, corrections be made and it be taken into account that from here there should be a law that is respected, and also expect global guidelines that may emerge after COP10 in November.”
Earlier, socialist Paulo Marques refused to allow smoking prevention measures to be used as a “target weapon to antagonize the Portuguese” and called for “maximum consensus” on specialization.
Regarding the PSD, MP Rui Cristina said that between 2019 and 2021 there had been a reduction of “less than half” in the number of smoking cessation counseling points and the number of consultations provided, in addition to a “dramatic reduction” in the number of people covered by prevention initiatives.
“Is it serious that the government would approve measures that draconianly restrict the point of sale of tobacco products without ensuring that smokers have ready access to smoking cessation counseling and treatment?” – he asked.
The MP also asked “how can the government not accompany such restrictive legislation with specific, effective and measurable measures for people who smoke and want to quit”, and indicated that the party, in particular, would facilitate hearings and at the end of the process it would be decided “which option best and most adequately serves the interests of the Portuguese.”
Andre Ventura from Chegi considered that the proposal “goes far beyond the European directive” and, although “Europe wants to regulate, the PS wants to prohibit”, and wondered whether businessmen who have made changes to the premises in recent years will be compensated. .
“Let those who smoke be smokers, let freedom work, the Portuguese be free,” he asked.
Spokesperson Joana Cordeiro said the Liberal Initiative (IL) “does not justify excessive prohibition or the paternalistic attitude of the state towards citizens.”
“Whoever decides to smoke is aware of all the risks. If he still decides to do it, it’s called freedom,” he emphasized.
The intervention of PS MP Maria Antonia Almeida Santos prompted MP João Cotrim de Figueiredo of Illinois to issue a plea: “Please give this group freedom of voice. We all know smoking is bad, but voting against your conscience still makes things worse.” “
Immediately afterward, MP Susana Amador asked to speak to point out that “the core principle of the PS is the freedom to vote” of the college.
PCP’s Joao Dias noted that smokers start smoking at a very young age and stressed the importance of the government offering “effective and specific public health measures rather than pitting smokers against smokers.”
Blockist MP Isabel Pires believes that by “significantly limiting the places where people can smoke, especially outdoors,” citizens are “deprived of the opportunity to engage in behavior within their sphere of freedom.”
“We are really entering into a debate about control, about prohibitionism, which can have the opposite effect,” he said, pointing out that it is not parliament or the government “from a moralistic and prohibitionist point of view that is saying that people should quit smoking.”
PAN’s Ines de Souza Real (who submitted projects to this debate, as well as Chega) rejected the “excessive or offensive decisions.”
Livre’s sole deputy said the Portuguese had the “right to manage” their premises and called for “not to belittle and infantilize smokers.”
In a debate in which the health minister was present but did not intervene, the health minister said changing the law was necessary and the measures were “largely based on scientific evidence” and “are generally welcomed by the public and they will be no exception.”
Regarding consultations on smoking cessation, the Minister indicated that in recent years due to the pandemic they have decreased, but are now almost at the same level as in 2019.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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