The PSD/Azores assured this Monday that the regional government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) will not resign if the regional plan and budget for 2024 fail, since the executive has a “responsible position”.
“If this happens, the responsibility for leadership will fall on the parties that failed the budget, and the government will continue its functions and tasks,” said Pedro Gomes, a member of the PSD regional political commission.
Assuring that “there is no scenario for the dismissal of the regional government if the budget fails,” Pedro Gómez said that if it does not depend on the Social Democrats, the executive will not resign.
“Let it be clear: the regional government will not resign if this Plan and Budget for 2024 fails, which will depend on the PSD,” he said.
The Social Democrat, who was once a member of the Assembly of the Republic, spoke at the regional headquarters of the PSD in Ponta Delgada on the occasion of the meeting of the Regional Political Commission, which took place on Saturday.
Pedro Gomes described the plan and budget of the Azores for 2024 as “documents of social justice, responsibility and stability”, recalling public investments of 740 million euros, 15% more than recorded in 2023.
A member of the regional political commission also emphasized “strengthening social support”, citing the example of an increase in the regional pension and a pension supplement that will “double” the amount paid in 2020 (the year in which the current leader took office).
According to the Social Democrat, a possible rejection of the Plan and Budget during the November vote “could jeopardize public investment and delay the adoption of measures until May 2024.”
“Failure to approve the Plan and Budget for 2024 will be an act of irresponsibility, as it will jeopardize the good implementation of the PDP. [Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência] and Azores 2030, which will delay the development of the Azores and the implementation of deep social justice measures for many months,” he warned.
The Social Democrat criticized the “legacy” left by the PS in the region and assured that the expected zero debt by 2024 will not jeopardize the application of the PRR.
“This does not jeopardize the extent to which the implementation of the RDP is properly addressed in this plan and budget,” he stressed.
Pedro Gomes also believes that the public funds available to the region represent a “unique opportunity that cannot be wasted due to party whims” and accused PS/Açores leader and former regional government president Vasco Cordeiro of being a “bringer of shame” .
“How does Dr. Vasco Cordeiro explain to the Azores and the Azoreans that the governments under his responsibility between 2012 and 2020 increased the region’s public debt by 1.682 million euros,” he asked.
On Saturday, the leader of the PS/Açores said that the Region’s Plan and Budget for 2024, which “sweeps problems under the rug”, “does not and should not convince the most conscious.”
The 2024 budget will be the first to be voted on after IL and an independent MP denounced written agreements supporting the regional government.
The three parties that make up the regional government (SDP, SDS-NP and PPM) have 26 deputies in the Legislative Assembly. With the support of Deputy Chega, the result is 27 seats – not enough for a majority.
The Legislative Assembly of the Azores consists of 57 deputies, in the current legislature 25 from the PS, 21 from the PSD, three from the SDS-PP, two from the PPM, two from the BE, one from the Liberal Initiative, one from the PAN, one from Enough and an independent deputy (elected by Chega).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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