SDP leader opposes income suppression and calls for a health compact between the public, private and social sectors

This Monday, the PSD president spoke out against any slowdown in income growth next year, defending government support for the most disadvantaged, and called for a health compact between the public, private and social sectors.

In an interview with TVI/CNN, Luis Montenegro did not express absolute agreement to vote against the proposed state budget for 2024, saying that he wants to wait for the document, which will be presented on Tuesday, although he admitted that he does not expect “significant changes” for the government in power eight years.

And if the government’s proposal results in a larger cut to the IRS than the 500 million euros initially envisaged, the PSD president says “he is satisfied” that he is getting closer to the Social Democrats’ proposal for a 1,200 million euro cut, but is believed to come “late” year”.

Montenegro stressed that the party continues to defend a policy of getting it right – “the SDP is where it has always been” – but seeks to return the increase in tax revenues caused by inflation to the people, rejecting that the Social Democrats are being reckless with their proposals.

“I am not advocating either increasing the deficit or increasing the debt,” he assured.

Regarding the problems in the housing sector, and also facing “disappointment” in this sector, which the Prime Minister admitted a week ago in the same interview, Montenegro expressed regret that António Costa did not take the opportunity to “apologize” to the Portuguese after how they set the goal for all Portuguese to have decent housing by the 50th anniversary of April 25 (2024).

Asked whether he would put the brakes on income growth if he were prime minister – instead of applying the law to keep growth in line with inflation – the SDP leader answered in the negative.

“If I were prime minister, I understand that the market must work, and the state must help more needy families and provide them with additional support,” he said, believing that the brake may seem like good news to people, but that will happen later.” The “perverse effect” of landlords canceling contracts or taking their homes off the market.

Regarding problems in the health sector, which have affected several hospitals due to the refusal of more than 2,000 doctors to work overtime than required by law, Montenegro believes that a structural solution is needed rather than “specific agreements.”

“What is needed in Portugal is a health pact that involves not only political parties, but also public, private and social operators to manage equipment, response capacity and human resources,” he said, believing that this is “not only a failure, but also hypocrisy”. “It is not expected that this Monday the SNS will have to resort to the services of contractors or enter into contracts with private companies.

The SDP leader said that “a fisherman from Afurad should have the same access to a private hospital as a lawyer”, acknowledged the return of public-private partnerships when they produce better results, and expressed hope that “if this is not stopped place of ideological vertigo” there will be “total chaos in the health sector.”

“The minister, who has been in office for just over a year, appears no longer in a position to respond. It seems that his head is in another place, they say that he wants to be president of the Chamber of Porto, and perhaps that is the case,” he noted, claiming that he understands the struggle of doctors, although he says that 150 the hours of overtime work are “not enough” and this is a level that a physician can easily achieve in four or five months.