The PS believes the 2024 budget will strengthen revenue and government policies, namely the freeze of all transport passes, and promises openness in assessing opposition proposals for changes.
These positions were outlined by the leader of the socialist bench, Eurico Brillante Díaz, following a meeting with the Ministers of Finance Fernando Medina and the Minister of Deputies and Parliament Ana Catarina Mendes in the Assembly of the Republic, during which the Government presented the main directions of the draft state budget for 2024.
In front of reporters, the president of the PS parliamentary group said that forecasts for 2024 indicate a continuation of “very high levels of employment”, with “Portugal close to achieving five million assets plus one million new jobs compared to 2015.” “.
“In 2024, we are projected to again converge towards the European Union average,” he said, without going into detail about the macroeconomic scenario, but before outlining the income policy planned for next year.
“This is a budget proposal aimed at increasing the income of families, especially young people. At PS we don’t just talk about fiscal policy, we also talk about wage revenues. And it is with salaries that the Portuguese pay their bills,” he commented. .
In this context, he noted that “today steps have been taken forward in negotiations with civil servants’ unions, which have not yet been completed,” and that the government is continuing negotiations within the framework of social consultations.
However, according to the leader of the Socialist Party, next year there will be “a strengthening of public policy in the housing sector – supporting the Portuguese at a time when interest rates and rents are rising – in health and education, where the response is very high.” important from the point of view of kindergartens.”
“In the field of transport and mobility, we will have free passes for students under 23 years of age, as well as a freeze on all other passes to increase mobility in public transport and combat climate change,” he emphasized.
According to Eurico Brillante Dias, family income will also be increased through government policies, especially for young people who have children in kindergartens, those whose children attend higher education institutions, or Portuguese who use public transport and purchase real estate. passes.
In political terms, during the budget discussion in this area, the president of the PS parliamentary group promised open negotiations on the proposals of the “democratic opposition”, excluding Chegu.
“We were the majority, which probably approved more of the opposition’s proposals on the specialty. Whether in the 2022 or 2023 budget, most proposals for amendments to the approved budget came from the opposition. We have approved more than a hundred proposals received from opposition parties,” he added.
Eurico Brillante Díaz even stated that the PS approved “only PPD/PSD more proposals for budget amendments” than the government of Pedro Passos Coelho, between 2011 and 2015, “for example, in the 2013 budget it approved all opposition parties” .
“But we need a different approach, a constructive approach from those who propose to improve the state budget. Differences in politics are legitimate, confrontation in politics is important so that the Portuguese have alternatives, but there are times when we have to speak up to improve the situation.” proposals,” he added.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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