The Prime Minister will again answer questions from MPs every two weeks, starting this Wednesday. This model of debate is returning to Parliament following a consensual revision of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Republic, approved last July.
Under the previous model, which was only approved by the PS and PSD in July 2020, the Prime Minister had a normative obligation to attend the plenary every two months to discuss general policy.
Starting Wednesday, as was the case before 2020, the Prime Minister’s debate will have two alternating formats – the first per month, initiated by the head of government, and the second in parties, alternating what opens – returning to just one round (instead of the current two) and lasting from 109 to 99 minutes (compared to the previous 180).
The debate on Wednesday will be held in the second format. It will be opened by the PS (followed by the PSD, Chega, Liberal Initiative, PCP, BE, PAN and Livre) and will last 99 minutes before preparatory debates for the European Council begin next week.
Following the revision of the Regulations, European debates involving the Prime Minister in Parliament will also receive more time and new rules. Unlike the format in force until the end of the last legislative session, the head of government will now have to answer each party individually, rather than jointly answer questions from different political forces.
At the political level, Wednesday’s debate comes as a biweekly debate a week after the government presented its draft 2024 state budget, with the executive facing opposition largely in the health and education sectors, and at a time of high international instability following the Hamas attack to the southern regions. Israel on the 7th.
Last week, at a budget meeting with PS deputies, António Costa highlighted the uncertainty inherent in the current international situation. He then mentioned that the main goal is to make Portugal a “safe haven” in the face of the current external shocks, maintaining economic growth (1.5%) and employment, and reducing debt through a budget surplus.
The executive leader warned that some of Europe’s major economies will either be in or close to recession next year, which will certainly create headwinds in terms of external demand and investment in the domestic economy.
In his successive public appearances, António Costa has emphasized a “5% update” of civil service salaries, a 6.2% increase in pensions since January, strengthening social benefits and cutting the IRS by around 1,600 people. million euros in 2024.
Faced with this budget proposal, PSD President Luis Montenegro announced on Tuesday that he is voting against the whole, with debates scheduled for the next 30th and 31st.
According to Luis Montenegro, as a “flip side” of the IRS reduction, an increase in revenues from VAT, fuel taxes (ISP) or vehicle turnover taxes (IUC) is expected.
“We are being deceived here, the country is being deceived. For direct taxes, the changes are minor and limited, for indirect taxes and affect everyone, the Government will levy much more in 2024 than it already levied in 2023 and 2022,” he said.
The Liberal Initiative announced its vote against the budget bill on the day of its presentation, the 10th, and the party’s president, Rui Rocha, called on the prime minister to back down, even before the two-week debate, on increasing the single circulation. Tax (IUC) on cars until 2007, considering this measure regressive and socially unfair.
On Monday morning, Bloco de Esquerda coordinator Mariana Mortagua announced five budget proposals for the National Health Service, including a 15% increase in the salaries of all professionals, a risk and hardship allowance, and an exclusivity regime.
Hours later, Chega President Andre Ventura said he would propose an increase of up to 20% in healthcare workers’ salaries as part of the 2024 budget, as well as equality between contract and permanent employees.
PCP general secretary Paulo Raimundo accused the government of making a “tax mistake” in its budget proposal to “elude wage increases and extend tax breaks for big businesses.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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