At the 19th Regional Congress of the PS in the Azores, Pedro Nuno Santos addressed the media, responding to the President of the Republic’s remarks on the 2025 State Budget negotiations made yesterday. He said:
“I prefer, to be clear and upfront with all of you, to lose elections rather than defend our convictions and what we think is best for the country than to give up our convictions to avoid elections for fear of losing them.”
Responsibility of the Government
On Saturday, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that the executive must understand that the national interest is more important than the Government’s program.
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He urged the Government to not be inflexible, warning that if they are, the decision will fall to the third party. Additionally, he advised the opposition leader to make an effort regarding the principles that would be ideal.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasized, if they don’t make an effort, whoever breaks the tie will be responsible. The third party will step in to break the tie if the first and second parties don’t come to an understanding. He was referring to Chega in this statement.
Respecting the Vote
This Sunday, Pedro Nuno Santos emphasized that the Portuguese people’s vote must be respected and reaffirmed that the time for political tactics is over. He reinforced:
“If the PS makes it viable, it has consequences. It could not be otherwise. I know, even here, there are those who think we should make it viable without seeing it, but for that to happen they would need to have a different secretary general. We do not make the State Budget viable without seeing it. That is what was needed.”
Position on the Budget
The socialist leader stressed that the PS does not want to create the Budget and reiterated the need to withdraw the IRS Jovem and reduce the IRC in the Government’s proposal. He stressed:
“We don’t even want 50% of the Budget. We don’t want to draw up a State Budget in partnership with those who govern. Those who govern must present the State Budget and the position must make the judgment, analysis and evaluation.”
Political Responsibilities and Radicalism
In the same speech, the PS secretary-general urged that Chega not be absolved of political responsibilities and accused the government of radicalism, claiming it was governing for a minority due to the IRS Jovem proposal.
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He argued that the simple approval of the State Budget (OE) by the PS would signify the nullification of the party. Santos said:
“Don’t do Chega a favor by exempting it from also being a party with political responsibilities. Don’t exempt Chega from responsibility. Don’t exempt Chega from evaluation and criticism because that is the worst service you are doing to Portuguese democracy.”
He further stressed:
“Letting Chega loose, the PS annulling itself as a political alternative to the PSD, that is the best contribution to Chega and to degrading Portuguese democracy.”
Clarifying Criticism
Pedro Nuno Santos dismissed Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s criticism, who accused the PS of being radical and inflexible. Santos clarified that the socialists only seek the removal of two measures from the State Budget: the reduction of the IRC and the IRS Jovem.
He reinforced that:
“What is the PS’s concession, many ask. The PS’s concession is to make viable a State Budget that is not its own. It is to make viable a State Budget that will be designed by the PSD from one end to the other. We are not interfering in the measures for health, education, agriculture, the economy or defense. We only said that we do not want two measures in hundreds of pages.”
Addressing the IRS Proposal
The PS secretary-general addressed the accusation of radicalism, calling it a fantasy to believe that the Government’s IRS Jovem proposal will retain young talent. He pointed out:
“The majority of young people will benefit from zero income tax on young people. Radicals are those who govern for the minority.”
Pedro Nuno Santos criticized the reduction of IRS as being cross-cutting and uncritical. He argued that this reduction should target companies that put their profits to good use by focusing on salary appreciation.
The socialist leader insisted:
“The PS will not capitulate to the government. That will not happen. Because the 78 PS deputies were not elected to execute the PSD government program, but the PS is willing to give in and make viable a Budget that it largely does not agree with in exchange for two measures.”
Counter-Proposal from the Government
Luís Montenegro described the proposal from PS Secretary General Pedro Nuno Santos as radical and inflexible. He believes that Santos aims to replace the Government’s program with the PS’s program.
However, he added that the Government will try to incorporate some aspects of what has been proposed, given the democratic legitimacy of the Socialist Party. Next week, they will present a counter-proposal to attempt to bridge the gap between the two positions.
