The PSD yesterday insisted that the European institutions do not put up any obstacles to reduce VAT on energy, in defense of the “immediate reduction” to the minimum rate of 6% on fuel, electricity and gas. A reduction in effect “for the first six-month period”automatically renewable if the price increase continues at the end of that period.
This is one of the most important measures of the social emergency program worth EUR 1.5 billion that the Social Democrats advanced yesterday. “The government and the prime minister have misled the Portuguese during these six months by saying that it was not possible to reduce VAT on fuel, electricity and gas”, accused the Social Democratic parliamentary leader, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, yesterday, claiming that “it is not understandable how the government has not yet reduced the VAT rate on energy” – “Several countries have already done so despite the lack of a formal decision of the European Commission”. The party leader, Luís Montenegro, would later say that the alleged obstacle by European authorities is nothing more than an “excuse” for not going ahead with the measure.
The government will present next Monday a series of measures to support families, to mitigate the impact of rising inflation, at the moment not knowing whether the package includes the reduction of VAT on gas or electricity. If not included, this will certainly be one of António Costa’s main criticisms. If the government includes this measure in the two billion euro package that it is preparing, the speech of the Social Democrats is also defined: the PSD “doesn’t care” whether the executive branch “takes the measures of the PSD” , Montenegro emphasized yesterday.
In addition to the reduction in VAT on energy, the PSD proposes a reduction in the IRS rates at the fourth, fifth and sixth levels, as well as an additional monthly amount of EUR 10 for children and young people receiving child benefits, a measure that would to be in effect until December. Another of the proposals concerns the granting of a monthly food voucher of 40 euros to all pensioners and pensioners who receive up to 1108 euros, to be distributed from September to the end of the year. The same voucher must be awarded to active citizens earning income up to the third tier of the IRS.
Once the proposal was known, the PS did not react long to this measure, through the group chairman. Eurico Brilhante Dias defended against Lusa that “the idea of a food stamp is an outdated idea, of paternalism towards the Portuguese that an adult citizen cannot admit, let alone a progressive party like the PS”. “It’s kind of a small charity that’s the opposite of the idea of social solidarity that we have,” criticism of the socialist leader.
“Very worrying signs of relegation”
The exchange of criticism between the socialists and the main opposition party over state aid to soften the impact of inflation promises to continue in the coming weeks. The package of measures, presented in the form of a draft resolution that Miranda Sarmento wants to discuss and vote in Parliament “as soon as possible” should also mark Luís Montenegro’s speech, tomorrow at the closing of the PSD Summer University. Wherever he went this Friday, Paulo Rangel, who did not spare his criticism of the performance of the government of António Costa, said he was “on the brink of bankruptcy”.
In a lesson devoted to the theme Towards a new Europe, the Social Democratic Vice-President said that “the signs of government degradation are very worrying”, witness the resignation of Health Minister Marta Temido, known to the beginning of the week. “The health care waiting lists have been passed on to the government, we are waiting 15 days for a new minister. This is political degradation to the extreme, a prime minister who cannot appoint a minister in time is a prime minister who is exhausted,” the MEP also accused, quoted by Lusa.
Source: DN
