Montenegro attacks opponents who are “cut from the same cloth” and aim to win elections

The President of the Social Democratic Party, Luis Montenegro, took to the stage this Saturday at around 8:00 pm to give his final speech at the 41st Social Democratic Congress at the Municipal Sports Complex of Almada to the sound of music. “Don’t stop believing” (Portuguese for “don’t stop believing”).

He began his speech by addressing Anibal Cavaco Silva, taking the politician’s “heritage” as a basis.

“President Cavaco Silva bears the greatest responsibility for the legacy that occurred after April 25. We are proud of the PSD for the work it has done for Portugal. We will live up to her legacy in the coming years,” Montenegro said.

Montenegro attacks opponents

Luis Montenegro said that António Costa and the candidates to succeed him are “pears of the same feather” and want to act as victims in the election campaign, although they were “the core of it all.”

“They didn’t see, they didn’t read, they didn’t know, they didn’t realize, the fault should be on the right, the fault should be on Passos, from time to time the fault will even be on Cavaco,” said Luis Montenegro, causing laughter and applause at the PSD congress.

In his second speech to congressmen, the Social Democratic leader noted that António Costa and the candidates for succession in the PS, Pedro Nuno Santos and José Luis Carneiro, whom he did not name, were “the core of all this for the last eight years.” years.”

Montenegro believed that socialists were the “new Christians of balancing public accounts”, which he believed was achieved by increasing taxes and “delaying investment” in public services.

In the closing speech of the 41st Congress of the PSD, Luis Montenegro foresaw that after the party’s statements in the financial and social sphere, he was already expecting criticism that the PSD had “promised everything to everyone” or that it would do the opposite of when he was the government during the “troika” period “

“When these new Christians come to us and tell us this, it is worth saying that balanced accounts for the SDP are a prerequisite, a condition of public policy, and not the end of public policy,” he stressed.

PSD in government

The PSD chairman is confident that the party will win the next elections on March 10: “We will win the elections thanks to what we can do, and not just because of what others have not done.” Luis Montenegro quoted singer Pedro Abrunhosa and added: “The time has come to do what has not been done yet.”

“I will be the prime minister that Portugal needs in the coming years,” he said, asking the Portuguese to vote for the PSD if they want to change the government.

“I also know that people expect more from me than what I have been able to show so far. I want to tell you personally, I know this,” he said in an excerpt from his speech that drew much applause.

Luis Montenegro assured that he will “give more” – he says that he has already visited 258 municipalities in the country – and that he has listened to many people in order to “be able to make the right decision.”

“I really listen to people, I have heard some tell me that I should be more energetic, more abrasive, like the leader of parliament they remember. There are others who ask me to be more restrained and say that not everything is like that bad,” he ruled.

Stating that he respects everyone, Montenegro assured that he will continue to be “militant, but at the same time reasonable, firm and moderate.”

“I know that I am very stubborn in my missions, but I also want to tell you: I always try to be as fair as possible, I am always honest, supportive and humane,” he said.

Pensions and reforms

Luis Montenegro also said he wants to increase the minimum guaranteed income for pensioners to 820 euros by 2028, ensuring his party does not cut “a single cent from any pension”.

“We will increase, in accordance with the law, pensions in general, but we will also gradually and until the end of the legislative assembly set the basic amount of the solidarity supplement for older people at 820 euros. This means: From 2028, the minimum guaranteed income for Portuguese pensioners will be 820 euros,” he said.

Montenegro guaranteed that “this goal is achievable” and “does not jeopardize the balance of public accounts.”

“And in the future, I can see how to intervene so that in the next legislature, the guaranteed minimum income for retirees can be equivalent to the updated national minimum wage. This is a goal that needs to be achieved in two legislatures,” he said.

The politician highlighted the “assessment of wages” of the Portuguese, noting that “fewer and fewer Portuguese have wages above the minimum, and that this is Portugal’s biggest problem.”

On this thread, the leader of the Social Democrats even praised, “with democratic humility,” the increase in the national minimum wage made by the socialist government in recent years.

Montenegro also promised to reduce the IRS rate to the eighth level

Teachers and youth

A complete replacement of teachers’ working hours was another promise of the PSD president, who said Portugal needs “35 thousand new teachers”, as well as retaining the country’s youth, “uniting generations, companies and entrepreneurs, stimulating greater prosperity.” , promoting transparency and eliminating corruption.” The SDP wants to cut the IRS for young people under 35 to a third of what they pay now.

The President of the Social Democratic Party said that “it is necessary to damage and regulate immigration” and that Portugal must know how to welcome and integrate migrant families “in general, not just male parents.”

Montenegro concluded by congratulating all Portuguese women, remembering the 25 victims killed in the country in 2023 due to domestic violence. The 41st Social Democratic Congress took place this Saturday, November 25, the day we fight to eradicate violence against women.

“Let’s go to work, let’s go to the streets. Viva Portugal, viva, viva, viva,” were the last words of Luis Montenegro in a 40-minute speech.