The PCP general secretary accused the PSD leader this Sunday of promising to increase pensions and reforms when he rejected proposals in this area from the communist bank a few days ago during the vote on the 2024 state budget.
“The PSD tried with that demonstration – and it is no coincidence that I call it a demonstration – to reset the odometer, wipe away its past responsibilities and move forward with a new rain of promises,” said Paulo Raimundo during a lunch meeting. in Santiago do Cacém, in the Setúbal district.
The communist leader responded in this way to the promise that Luís Montenegro made on Saturday at the end of the PSD congress to increase the guaranteed minimum income of pensioners to 820 euros by 2028, and to ensure that his party will not “cut one cent at retirement age.” any pension”.
The PSD and PS are “committed to the short memory of our people, but it is remarkable to hear that the PSD promises increases in pensions and reforms,” said Paulo Raimundo, considering that the promises do not correspond to the practice of social -democrats.
“It’s not worth going back eight years to remind them of the cuts they made to reforms and pensions. Let’s go back a few days, when the PSD was confronted in the Assembly of the Republic with the proposal that the party (PCP) proposed for increases in reforms and pensions by 7.5%, with a minimum increase for all reforms and pensions of 70 euros,” said Paulo Raimundo.
“The PSD had the opportunity to fulfill its promise. And what did she do? She joined the PS, joined Chega and the Liberal Initiative, some [com votos] others abstained and ultimately our proposal was rejected,” the communist leader lamented.
Regarding the PSD’s promise to promote greater fiscal justice, Paulo Raimundo gave the example of another PCP proposal, which ultimately proved unfeasible in the state budget debate.
“It is also not worth going back eight years to confront them with the biggest tax increase of all time, namely that of the PSD/CDS government. Let’s go back a few days, because again, a few days ago, those who come to fill their chests talking about taxes and against fiscal injustice – PSD, PS, Chega and Liberal Initiative -, they voted against the party’s proposal [PCP] combating one of the biggest scandals of tax injustice in our country, namely the tax breaks given to large corporations,” he said.
According to the communist leader, until the early parliamentary elections on March 10, the Portuguese will not only hear a “rain of promises” from the PS and PSD, but will also witness an attempt to remove responsibility for their government’s actions. decades.
“The tactics are known: the leader changes and they want the odometer to start from zero again. What’s left behind, stays behind. The damage done is the responsibility of the previous person. It is always the same story, a method, a style and a form that is used and abused by PS and PSD. It is an operation that is usually accompanied by another phase, namely the phase of the shower of promises after promises,” he emphasized.
“They can make all the promises, they can give all the sponges they want, they can try to alleviate their responsibilities, but one thing is certain: the right-wing policies of the PSD will never be an alternative to the right-wing policies of the PSD. right – whether it is from the PSD, whether it is from the PS –, it is here, it is in the PCP, it is in the CDU, the alternative that responds to people’s problems,” assured Paulo Raimundo.
Source: DN
