OE approved by IUC between the lines and without reference to TAP

Not a word about the TAP (nothing is included in the budget either), and the Unified Automobile Tax (UST) is a throwing weapon of the opposition.

Fernando Medina, the finance minister, defended his second budget. “What interests the Portuguese is that they will pay less to the IRS, they will have pensions that cover the cost of living, they will have a historic increase in the minimum wage,” he said. This is the point that divides the executive and the right: increasing revenues versus increasing indirect taxes. “We have achieved budget consolidation through a record tax burden,” emphasized Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, head of the PSD board. He added that the deficit reduction is happening because the government is “taxing too much.” “Illusionism,” he adds, “makes the country poorer,” he insisted.

Rui Rocha of the Liberal Initiative is counting the government’s hands again. “There are four hands that generate income, two of them [António Costa] and two from Minister Fernando Medina.”

There was an increase in IUC between lines. From right to left were those who remembered the tax increase. The Portuguese “will pay more for a car,” said Andre Ventura from Chega.

BE brought to the table what is not in OE. “The debate was so focused on raising the tax that no one noticed it disappearing,” said Mariana Mortagua, referring to the tax on extraordinary corporate profits, which she considers “scandalous.” Medina responded and assured that even without additional taxes, “they will be taxed, they will increase the IRC revenues of the country.”

Galamba ended the OE 2024 debate with a “provocation” against Marcelo
TAP turned out to be the elephant in the speech of Infrastructure Minister João Galamba. In the 22 pages at the end of the debate on the state budget, there was no mention of the privatization of TAR, an operation for which he was co-responsible.

The minister who caused the last serious crisis between the government and the President of the Republic could not resist another “provocation”, quoting Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: “Ladies and gentlemen, let me quote His Excellency, the President of the Republic: this budget follows the only possible strategy. And asking permission, I’ll add: this is a really good budget,” said João Galamba.

A proposal that the Minister of Infrastructure managed to complete only on the third attempt, after several interruptions caused by protests from deputies, especially Chegi, and the intervention of the President of the Assembly of the Republic, Santos Silva. We recall that in May, suggesting “deep differences” with António Costa over Galamba, Marcelo even indirectly classified the infrastructure minister as “irresponsible”.

However, the government’s silence on TAP was broken by the opposition. Blok accused the manager of lacking legitimacy for the sale. Pedro Filipe Soares believes that the PS did not listen to “people about a change of opinion” regarding privatization. According to the liberals, any results of the TAR privatization should be returned to the Portuguese, since it cost the country more than three billion euros. “?” asked deputy João Cotrim de Figueiredo.

The social sphere will help healthcare
The health minister said he would turn to the social sector to ensure “transitional citizen care” for those who do not have a family doctor. Manuel Pizarro explained that this measure will serve to address the “wave of retired professionals” who expect “many difficulties until the end of 2024.” A government official admitted that 1.6 million Portuguese do not have a family doctor, despite another 9 million having access to consultations with a health professional.

AND

CRITICIZES COSTA ACCOUNT
Chega criticized the Prime Minister’s social media post saying “this is the Portuguese budget” and Andre Ventura read out some of the comments made, such as “who was the enlightened person who wrote this post”, “a little shame” or “Costa , the man who disgraced Portugal.”

More places in kindergartens
The Minister of Social Security has guaranteed that in 2024 there will be an additional 35,000 free places in kindergartens, bringing the total number of places to 120,000.

MEDINA IS IRRITATING
The PAN deputy became angry with the Finance Minister after Fernando Medina became distracted while talking to António Costa during an intervention. “Maybe when you are interested in listening to the opposition…” Ines Souza Real said.