On Wednesday, the PS confirmed that it will vote against the program of the XIV government of the PSD/SDS-PP/PPM coalition because it believes that it is exacerbating the problems of the region, while the PSD recalled that there is a “clearly defined course of action.”
According to Socialist MP Carlos Silva, the government program, which this Wednesday began to be discussed in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), is “not very ambitious” and is “simply of a continuity nature”, which “could represent a deterioration in the financial situation of the region , which is already especially difficult.”
In his opinion, the situation could “maintain a low level of public funds,” contrary to the words of the executive branch, and “lead to a waste of valuable financial resources available to the region.”
“The PS cannot contribute to a government program that not only does not solve problems, but actually makes them worse, and in some situations in very alarming ways,” he said.
The socialist spoke at the ALRAA plenary meeting in the city of Horta on the island of Faial after the regional secretary of finance, planning and public administration, Duarte Freitas, presented the general directions of the government program in the areas he oversees.
According to Carlos Silva, the intentions of the executive branch are to reduce the budget deficit and create, for example, a mechanism for timely payment of debts to suppliers, as his party proposes.
In response to the Socialist MP, Social Democratic MP Joaquim Machado (PSD) remarked: “It appears that the situation in the region is the result of just three years of the coalition government.”
“As far as public finances are concerned, I think we can conclude this: we have done a lot in a short time and with few resources. And we have a clearly defined action plan. Paying what we owe rather than spending more than we have. and therefore even make choices. And one of the priorities will have to be not to jeopardize the future of the region,” he said.
The Social Democrat added that the government’s PSD/CDS-PP/PPM course “is determined and also includes the rescue” of the Azores airline SATA.
“It is necessary to save SATA from the collapse of socialist rule, which, especially in the period from 2012 to 2020, plunged the company into the financial situation that we know about,” he said.
Joaquim Machado also noted that the intervention of the PS deputy is consistent, since Carlos Silva said that “things are always wrong.”
In response, Social Democrat Carlos Silva assured: “The PS never said that everything was wrong, but it also cannot deny the harsh reality in which the Azoreans live.”
“Not everything was done badly, but as far as public reporting is concerned, the path taken is worrying (…) and there are consequences,” and, he added, companies and families ultimately suffer as a result. .
This Wednesday, ALRAA began discussing the XIV Program of the regional government, the discussion of which, according to the agenda, should last until Friday.
The new PSD/CDU-NP/PPM coalition government, which came to power on March 4 after winning early regional elections on February 4 but does not have an absolute majority, is undergoing its first “trial by fire” in debates and voting. according to the program, since if it is rejected by an absolute majority of votes, this will lead to the resignation of the executive branch.
According to the Political-Administrative Statute of the Azores, the discussion of the government program must take place no later than the 15th day after the assumption of office by the executive, and the discussion of the document “cannot exceed three days.”
Before the end of the debate, any parliamentary group can propose rejection of the executive’s program, and approval of this rejection by an absolute majority “implies the resignation of the government.”
The PSD/CDU-NP/PPM coalition won the regional elections and elected 26 deputies, three less than the 29 needed for an absolute majority, while the PS elected 23 deputies, Chegu five, and BE, IL and PAN one by one.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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