The Prime Minister announced on Tuesday in the General Assembly of the Republic that the government will approve in the Council of Ministers on the 28th the diploma that will provide the framework for the TAP privatization process.
This move by the executive regarding the TAP privatization process was conveyed by António Costa in the first speech he made in the parliamentary debate on Chega’s motion of censure in the government.
In the final part of his intervention, the Prime Minister referred to the current economic and financial situation of the national airline.
“As the European Commission acknowledges, we are successfully implementing the restructuring plan and I can confirm that next week we will approve the diploma that will create the framework for the privatization of TAP, defending the company and the interests of Portugal and the Portuguese” , declared António Costa.
Earlier, at this point in his intervention, the executive leader sought to emphasize that “TAP not only did not make a loss last year, but also made a profit.”
“This year, 7.6 million passengers were carried in the first half of the year, representing 96% of the passengers carried in the pre-pandemic period,” he added.
Arrives, embarrasses PSD and drags IL, but the motion says zero to the Portuguese
Previously, the Prime Minister believed that Chega’s vote of no confidence in the government was a success because it embarrasses the PSD and drags IL along with it, but he argued that these “media exercises” mean nothing to the Portuguese.
This position was expressed by António Costa in the first part of his speech in the parliamentary debate on the motion of censure of the government, submitted by Chega, in which he noted that the party led by André Ventura resorts in every parliamentary term to this regimental instrument and constitutional.
“Two legislative sessions, two motions of censure,” but “what does Chega actually want with these motions of censure? To challenge his partners on the right,” the executive leader insisted.
According to the Prime Minister, the motion of censure was a success as it challenges the PSD and the Liberal Initiative.
“It embarrassed the PSD and dragged down the liberal initiative. But these exercises, which entertain the political and media bubble, mean nothing to the Portuguese.”declared António Costa.
In his speech, the Prime Minister referred to government measures in healthcare, housing and, in general, sectors to combat the effects of inflation.
In this sense, he reiterated that the government will approve in the Council of Ministers on Thursday “a measure that will allow the reduction and stabilization for two years of the amount of the monthly installment.” [do crédito à habitação]ensuring predictability and tranquility in the lives of families”.
For families living in rented houses, according to the Prime Minister, “in addition to the ceiling for income increases in 2023”, an “income subsidy has been created that supports 185,000 families monthly”, a universe that “will be expanded”.
He also advocated in the field of housing that there is “a concrete goal and a known calendar: increasing the supply of social housing by 32,800 homes by December 31, 2026”.
“We have not now discovered that housing is a priority, nor have we started work on the roof,” he warned.
In the fight against poverty, from the executive leader’s perspective, “660 thousand people have freed themselves from poverty or social exclusion since 2015.”
“Between 2015 and 2022, average worker pay increased by 26% and the minimum wage by more than 50%. At the same time, the net income of families has increased due to the reduction of the IRS, free textbooks and childcare centers or the reduction of public transport subscriptions,” pointed out.
At the end of his speech, in a more political part of his intervention, the Prime Minister argued that “on important national issues, governments and oppositions almost always agree on identifying the problems”.
“What sets us apart is action in light of the problem. The government focuses on solutions, Chega remains in confusion. And while the opposition stops, the government moves forward and Portugal makes progress,” he declared in the final part of his intervention.
According to the executive leader, his team’s goal is “to guarantee the stability of the policies that the Portuguese clearly opted for in the last parliamentary elections.”
“A mandate to transform the country and solve the people’s problems, without disrupting the noise that many want to bring to political life. When this is added to the major strategic challenges of demography, climate change, the digital transition, the reduction of inequality, the uncertainties of a war in Europe, an inflation crisis, a brutal rise in interest rates, what is needed is strategic determination , response to problems and governing with serenity, with the people in mind. That’s what we do,” he added.
Source: DN
