The parliamentary leader of the Socialist Party believes that the government sought to take measures to remove children’s income as an exclusion factor in CSI access to the socialist electoral program, noting “with gratitude” that it did so.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Alexandra Leitão reacted to the Council of Ministers’ approval of a measure to remove children’s income as an exclusion factor for access to the Senior Citizens’ Solidarity Benefit (CSI).
The parliamentary leader of the PS noted that this measure was in the socialist electoral program, not in the Democratic Alliance (AD) program, and “it was not even one of the measures that the government took advantage of the electoral programs to include in its government program.”
“We note with appreciation that you passed a measure that we consider important, which is why it was included in our election program, unlike what happened with AD,” he said, adding that the PS had already introduced the CSI bill in parliament and scheduled a possible debate on the issue for May 24.
“The government here was playing the waiting game. This is the case when it can be said that the Government should not complain that the PS is trying to govern from parliament, because, in the end, the Government uses the measures of the PS. Therefore, it governs even through the government,” he said, adding that the PS “does not intend to govern, it intends to achieve approval for its measures.”
“After all, the government approves the PS measures by decree-law,” he said.
Asked if she thought this was “an attempt to bring the government closer to the PS,” Alexandra Leitan replied: “No, I think this is an attempt to use a positive measure that they did not remember and which they are using. the measure that was from the PS.”
“But, as I already said, this is a good measure, we welcome it. However, we learned that this could have been one of the measures included in the government program, but this was not the case: it was reused at the last minute, probably for some political purpose,” he emphasized.
Asked if the PS agreed with the measure giving CSI beneficiaries access to free medicines, which was also approved by the government today, Alexandra Leitão replied that “the measures approved today are good measures for the people in general,” but the party needs to “study them in more detail”.
“We only have a public statement, we have nothing to comment on these measures, these are good measures. Now, naturally, we must note the fact that one of the measures is not included in the AD election program, is included in the PS, and is currently approved by the AD government,” he said.
Already answering the question about how the PS will position itself in parliament in connection with the CSI measure, the deputy recalled that the government approved this measure by decree-law, so it will not necessarily have to go through parliament, and said that the party also needs to become more aware it to decide whether to submit it to parliament or not.
Regarding a possible debate on this matter, which the PS has scheduled for May 24, the leader of parliament said that the party has yet to analyze what to do about it, namely whether to cancel this schedule or change the topic.
The Prime Minister announced today that the Government will increase the base value of the Senior Solidarity Supplement (CSI) by €50 from June and will remove children’s income as an exclusion factor.
In other words, from June the base value of this benefit will increase from 550 to 600 euros, and only the amounts of pensioners and retirees who claim it will be taken into account.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal

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