A PAN spokesman said this Wednesday that the program of the XXIV Constitutional Government shows a “lack of climate ambition” and failures to achieve gender equality, and also criticized the lack of dialogue with opposition parties.
Speaking to reporters in parliament, Ines de Sousa Real said the debate over the government program “cannot be a delay in Portugal’s priorities.”
“We have an opportunity here that cannot be missed, especially on fundamental issues like health care, access to housing, and which is clearly not expressed in a handful of nothings or very vague phrases that in some way do not convey the commitments and electoral flags that have been secured by AD during the election campaign,” he said.
In a “preliminary analysis”, a PAN spokesman criticized the “lack of climate ambition” in the government’s agenda, saying “we cannot systematically fall behind” or have “incoherent policies that need to be pushed forward”.
“We do not see here the intention and vision of talking about a green economy, about ensuring effective protection of territorial planning, which is not consistent with measures that are in some way biased in protecting animals,” he emphasized.
Sousa Real believes that there is a “lack of vision regarding agriculture itself,” stressing that the area is in decline, since it will be necessary to guarantee the necessary increases in value, payments and investments in the sector, but in accordance with this. “with environmental issues, which is clearly not in line with the government’s vision.”
“For PAN, the return of forest conservation and animal welfare functions to the Ministry of Agriculture is indeed very worrying because we know that we need to go further in protecting forests, but this protection must also happen in the Ministry of Agriculture. Environment,” he defended.
On the other hand, the only member of the PAN also felt that there were deviations in terms of gender equality, expressing concern over the fact that the program “refers to the importance of the role of women and fertility associated with women, and not with the family.” “.
“We cannot forget that the fertility problems faced today affect families, young people and not just women, and in this sense a renewed role and conservative vision in this government program is underway. This fact is very alarming,” he said.
Finally, Ines de Souza Real stated that “to say that more than 60 party measures have been adopted cannot be a monologue,” stressing that dialogue must be “a two-way street, not just accepting what they want.”
“I remember that the government of Luis Montenegro is not a government with an absolute majority, it is a government of a minority, it is a government that must definitely take advantage of this opportunity for greater pluralism,” he said.
Asked if PAN is ready for dialogue with the government, Sousa Real said the party has already declared its readiness, especially on issues such as tax reduction, access to housing, equality or higher education.
“It is important that Luis Montenegro comes to the negotiating table once and for all so that the Portuguese have the opportunity to see their lives improve here,” he said.
Asked what the direction of PAN’s vote would be on the PKP’s rejection motion, the lawmaker said the party would meet on Thursday with its National Political Commission to analyze the issue and the government’s program, noting that “everything is open now.”
The government program of the Democratic Alliance (AD) was approved this Wednesday by the Council of Ministers ahead of two days of debate in Parliament, on Thursday and Friday.