The Minister of Finance believed that the “interest rate increase is more negative than positive” because it “brings risks to the economy”, risks that “exceed the benefits”.
Fernando Medina says that in the field of housing, the government will this month hand over “two diplomas with a very positive impact on the lives of the Portuguese”. “One will stabilize the value of repayments for two years and the other will increase the number of families supported by interest subsidies. It is an essential area, where everyone is at home.”the governor said.
Medina says he will work with social partners to achieve tax relief, but that it is necessary to evaluate “the conditions in the country and the phase of greater uncertainty that we will enter.”
Without wishing to anticipate a possible reduction in the IRC, the Minister of Finance excludes a reduction in social security contributions. “We will not make decisions that could weaken the contributory base of social security. It is not a path that deserves our positive opinion,” he emphasized after the meeting of the Social Consultation.
This Wednesday’s Social Consultation was the first after the summer holidays and the agenda items included a consultation with the social partners on the OE2024 and the state of affairs regarding the income and competitiveness agreement signed in October between the government, the employers’ federations and the UGT.
Among the government members present at the meeting were the Ministers of Finance, Fernando Medina, of Labor, Ana Mendes Godinho, of the Economy, António Costa e Silva, and of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes.
Source: DN
