“Unifying”: PS condemns the attack on Medina with paint

This Friday, the PS considered the action of a climate activist who hit the Minister of Finance with brilliant green and accused the political right of not telling the truth about the Single Turnover Tax (UST) “unpalatable.”

These positions were voiced by Social Democratic Party assistant general secretary João Torres in statements to journalists at the end of a meeting of European Socialist mayors at the party’s national headquarters, shortly after Fernando Medina was hit with green paint by an activist. , during an open session at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon.

“Without having detailed information, I say that all ways of mobilizing citizens for a green transition, which is also fair, are certainly welcome. But there are actions that are not the most instructive and that end up having a different effect than what is intended for those who practice them,” he said.

João Torres emphasized that “there are more mobilizing and more inspiring ways to mobilize society to fight climate change.”

“At PS, we have been a sustainable brand for many years. With this government and this prime minister, Portugal has become the first country to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, a goal that is currently the goal. moved to 2045. The mark that EPS leaves on the country in terms of the weight of renewable energy is undeniable,” he said.

Facing criticism from the government for including an IUC increase in its proposed 2024 state budget affecting vehicles registered from 2007 or before this year, the socialist leadership’s number two defended that “there are three myths that deserve condemnation from the PS side.”

“This measure does not pursue the fundamental goal of increasing tax revenue for the state. It has an environmental objective and aims to correct the asymmetry, since vehicles registered before 2007 do not have the environmental component applied in the IUC calculation formula. Against. “From what the right has said, the goal is not to increase tax collection – and this is a budget that significantly reduces Portuguese taxes,” he said.

The second myth, according to Joao Torres, is that IUC is supposedly growing exponentially.

“Since the first version was submitted to Parliament, the budget has provided for limiting the MPC for vehicles registered in 2007 and earlier. Under no circumstances may it exceed the amount of 25 euros per year. But on social networks I saw a disinformation campaign that tries to deceive the Portuguese, as if the IUC could increase by 800 or a thousand percent,” he criticized.

According to João Torres, there is “a third myth” regarding this issue regarding the IUC.

“PS is not the first party to promote public policy in which green taxation is one of the main axes. PSD, in the exercise of government functions, implemented and approved the green tax reform, in which ISV (vehicle tax), IUC and introduced public policy measures that I am convinced have had a positive effect. And they did this in a context without raising wages and pensions or cutting the IRS, as indicated in the state budget proposal,” he said.

Later, the PS Assistant Secretary General asked that the IUC issue be discussed “seriously”.

“I don’t see right-wing parties in this regard,” he added.

Regarding the criticism from Socialist MPs regarding the consequences of social injustice if the IUC were to be applied as currently provided for vehicles from 2007 and previous years, João Torres decided to insist that “it is necessary to put this issue into perspective “

“The budget historically strengthens wages and pensions, cuts the IRS more than the PSD proposal, and goes much further on issues such as free kindergarten or strengthening social solidarity bonuses and family benefits. We cannot limit the debate to just the budget proposal. concerns the IUC issue,” he warned here in an indirect internal message.

“The main thing, according to the assistant secretary general of the PS, is to clarify what is at stake.”

“And the opposition is not looking for means to achieve its goals, and parties to the right of the PS are resorting to unacceptable prejudices,” he added.

In addition to João Torres, the Minister of the Sector, Marina Gonçalves, as well as the President of the Chamber of Matosinhos and the National Association of Mayors took part in the meeting of European Socialist Mayors, the central theme of which was “affordable, socially inclusive and sustainable housing”. “. Socialists, Luisa Salgueiro.

The meeting opened with speeches by Christophe Rouillon, President of PES Local, Mayor of Coulin (France) and Vice-President of the Association of Mayors of France, as well as PS National Secretary for Local Government, Suzana Amador.