Chega warns that PR publication is not a reason for the government to close its pockets

The leader of Chega warned on Tuesday that the government cannot use a series of decrees by the President of the Republic as an argument to close its pockets and not take responsibility for the discussion of the state budget for 2025.

André Ventura made this position clear in statements to journalists after the President of the Republic published seven parliamentary decrees on the IRS, including the reduction of rates, VAT on electricity and the abolition of tolls, five of which were approved by the opposition, with the votes against the PSD and the SDS-PP.

“We are ready to assess the budgetary implications of these measures together with the government, but at the same time I want to make it clear that we will not back down on important issues such as the security forces, former combatants or the fight against corruption. Therefore, the government will not use this argument as a way to line its pockets,” said President Chegi.

According to André Ventura, Chega is “well aware of the new budgetary context” following the publication of a series of parliamentary decrees that affect the balance of public accounts.

“But this does not mean that the government can say today that it will no longer consider proposals from any other party. The measures taken now do not change our logic in budget negotiations. We ask that the government not use this resolution to very fairly say that there is nothing more, and either your budget will be approved, or we will go to the elections. We will never give in to any blackmail,” he stressed.

André Ventura, in the presence of journalists, considered that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s decision to publish seven diplomas, five of which were voted against by the PSD and the SDS-PP, “is not a victory for Chega, but, in fact, a victory for the country.”

“The efforts made by the Parliament, in whose approval Chega played a decisive role, allowed the approval of measures that will have a real impact on the lives of Portuguese people from January 1st. The tolls on the former SCUT motorways will no longer be charged. Less VAT will be charged on electricity and Portuguese who earn less will pay less to the IRS next year. Chega has a great responsibility to ensure that those who benefit from this tax cut are not the rich, but the middle class and those who earn up to two thousand euros a month,” he said.

In a note published today on the official website of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa states that these diplomas “have a general financial dimension that affects state revenues” and “all diplomas will have to be reflected in the 2025 state budget in order to be implemented.”

In the note, the head of state differentiates them by the moment from which they will have an impact on state accounts, noting that in the case of the three decrees concerning the VAT on electricity, the abolition of fees and deductions for housing expenses in the IRS, “such an impact will occur not in the current budget year, but only from January 1, 2025, the exact date of its entry into force.”

“In another case, regarding the emergency contribution to real estate in local housing, this is a legislative resolution of the government on its initiative, in fact the only one of the seven that is not based on parliamentary initiatives of the opposition, but on a law proposed by the government that was voted on and approved,” he points out.

The President of the Republic adds that “in the remaining three cases, all of which relate to the IRS, of which two were voted for only by the opposition, the moment of impact on state revenues depends on state regulation through the establishment of deductions at source, so they too can only have an impact on the following budget year.”

“In other words, to be implemented, all diplomas must be reflected in the state budget for 2025, and therefore they will not be relevant for participation in the discussion and approval of the budget for the next year. In this way, they will also contribute to the financial, economic and political stability of our country,” he adds.

The decree to reduce IRS rates to level 6, which comes from the PS project, was approved by the opposition in the final global vote on June 12 and, according to the portal of the Assembly of the Republic, was sent to the Belém Palace exactly twenty days ago, on July 3.

The text presented by the Budget, Finance and Public Administration Committee, based on the PS bill, received votes against only two parties supporting the government, the PSD and the SDS-PP, and was adopted with the abstention of Chegi and the votes for the PS, IL, BE, PCP, Livre and PAN.