The PS ruled on Wednesday that the government’s agreement on social dialogue is a political achievement, demonstrates a sense of responsibility in a context of international crisis and the existence of an alternative path to that of the right.
These references to the medium-term agreement on income, wages and competitiveness signed on Sunday by the government, the employers’ federations and the UGT, were made in the plenary in parliament by the vice-chairman of the socialist bank Francisco César.
“In a context and in an international context of increasing challenges and difficulties, with the highest inflation in recent decades that has severely impacted the cost of living, with rising interest rates and with a war in the background that fills the horizon with uncertainty and uncertainty paints about the future, reaching an agreement in these circumstances is really a great political achievement,” he defended.
For the vice-chairman of the PS parliamentary group, the agreement reached shows “a great sense of responsibility among all its stakeholders who, in a context of great adversity, put the national interest above all else”.
“The success of this agreement also translates into the collective affirmation of an alternative path in times of crisis. An alternative path to that of the right, an alternative path to austerity,” said Francisco César.
Francisco César then quoted the president of the republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as saying that “it is very different to face the current context of stability problems or a climate of permanent social tension”.
“Summarized, [temos] appreciation of household income, improvement of young people’s living conditions and greater business competitiveness, for the whole country, the continent and the autonomous regions,” he added.
THEAlso according to the “deputy” of the socialist bank, the agreement “adds ambition to the more than 4.25 billion euros that this government has already mobilized for companies and families and to which more measures are now being added in the state budget for 2023”.
“It is an agreement that, despite turmoil and adversity, provides answers and points a way. Of those who in dialogue, in consultation, with a spirit of openness, do not seek refuge in the comfort of the majority granted to them in elections , while at the same time striving for consensus and building solutions involving the social partners and other entities representing Portuguese society,” he said.
Francisco César also left a message regarding the coming times: “This agreement is not the end of our action in the fight against the crisis”.
“It’s not even the beginning of the end, but it might be the end of the beginning,” he added.
Source: DN
