PSD vice-president Paulo Rangel on Friday accused the prime minister of wanting to “disclaim responsibility” for his government’s housing failures, warning that the problem cannot be solved with letters to the European Commission.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the PSD Summer University, Paulo Rangel was questioned by journalists about the Expresso news, according to which the government had sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposing that “Housing and retaining talent are among the priorities” of the Brussels executive.
The PSD vice-president started by pointing out that “it is absolutely normal” for the European Commission, before the State of the Union speech, to ask Member States and political groups in the European Parliament to contribute to the priorities of next year.
“This consultation, which is completely normal, is not intended to shift responsibilities to Brussels. Why did you not make this proposal eight years ago? You are now doing it out of desperation,” Paulo Rangel accused, noting that the Prime Minister is trying to “throw sand in the eyes of the Portuguese”.
The first vice-president of the PSD defended that António Costa “failed to avoid housing problems and now he had the chance to change his hand” [com o veto do Presidente da República] insists on mistakes”.
“This is an admission of failure, a failure in the whole line of housing policy. Since António Costa has already realized that even the measures he has approved will have no effect, he is now trying to transfer responsibility to the European Union. António Costa is a master,” he criticized.
However, he warned that it will not be the European Commission that will solve Portugal’s housing problem.
“The responsibility lies with the PS government, it is the PS that made the Portuguese pay very high rents and high interest rates, insofar as this did not prevent housing construction in these eight years,” he said.
In a note published on the executive’s official website, the government said it had sent the European Commission its priorities for 2024 in a series of 15 proposals, including a European initiative for affordable housing or a “framework for the resilience of water surfaces”. and the availability of water” and adds that these are the main concerns of Portugal sent under the European Commission’s work program for next year.
As in 2022, this initiative gives Portugal the opportunity to have a proactive voice in planning the European Commission’s legislative agenda for next year, the note adds.
Source: DN
