PCP General Secretary Paulo Raimundo on Wednesday accused the government of benefiting a “small minority,” while Luis Montenegro responded that the communists have a complex vision of society.
During a two-week debate with the Prime Minister in Parliament, PCP Secretary General Paulo Raimundo accused the government of “exploiting existing problems not to solve them according to the needs of the majority, but to open up new business opportunities for the small minorities.”
“They are using the housing drama to increase speculation and service real estate funds and banks, they are using health difficulties to devote even more public resources to fighting disease sooner or later, they are taking advantage of low wages to cut taxes on large capital,” – he criticized.
According to Paulo Raimundo, “everything serves the interests of the few, while excuses for not fulfilling one’s obligations multiply, as happens to workers in various sectors of public administration.”
“The government has rushed with layoffs, with obligations to economic groups, but when it comes to solving the problems faced by the majority, this will not happen and will not happen,” he criticized.
The Communist leader criticized the government’s housing package last week, saying it did not contain a single measure “that would stop rising rents and put the group at odds with new record profits in the first quarter of this year.”
“Do you or do you not think that banks and real estate funds should do their part to solve the dramatic housing situation?” he asked.
In response, Montenegro said it would maintain “from beginning to end” differences with the PKP regarding “the development of public policy and its impact” on society.
“The MP does not trust society, the established potential in the private, social sector, the proactive ability of people to join social institutions or companies,” he accused, saying that the government, in opposition, has such trust.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that “there is a range of services that depend on the state” and “must have a public guarantee”, listing the areas of health, education or housing, but stressed that the government does not believe that “Only the state will be able to solve access problems , which worries so many Portuguese families.”
“And here the MP opens a dangerous window: when an organization from the social or private sector contributes to public access services, be it health, education or housing, it seeks only and exclusively to be able to repay the debt.” to big capital,” he said.
Montenegro said it does not have “this complex view” that “companies and institutions cannot provide public services”, despite agreeing that “it should be done through government regulation, with rules transparency and oversight.”
On housing, the chief executive said that “both banks and property funds are engaged in a strategy that can bring more supply to the market,” and added that the chief executive will act on both the supply and demand sides.
Montenegro said the government wants to “have a growing public supply in the coming years” but also wants to have a “private and non-exclusive supply for the high-end, luxury segments of local housing.”
“Let’s see if we understand each other: we have a country where there is room for everyone. It’s good when there are good customers who buy more expensive, luxurious goods, this is not a crime at all. It is good to have a local accommodation offer which can be, as is important in our tourism, and in a mode of formality rather than informality,” he said, adding that this is the philosophy that the government will follow.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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