PS leadership candidate Pedro Nuno Santos opined on Tuesday that the PSD cannot be trusted when it comes to defending a public pension system, again criticizing the social democratic leader’s latest statements on the matter.
“You can’t rely on them to defend a public pension system they don’t believe in, and that makes all the difference. It has nothing to do with the adjustment program, but with a certain conception of society, the role of the state and the public pension system”confirmed Pedro Nuno Santos.
On the sidelines of a meeting in Lisbon with representatives of the Confederation of Trade and Services of Portugal, the former Socialist minister commented on Saturday on the proposal of PSD President Luís Montenegro during the party’s 41st Congress. create a minimum income of 820 euros for all pensioners who benefit from the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly.
For Pedro Nuno Santos, there is still no explanation from the PSD leader about this proposal.
‘It is important that whoever promises something’ he wants to present at the elections can also present the underlying accounts so that the issue can be discussed “seriously”, he said.
“We will continue without clarification from the PSD. The PSD leader had promised that he would present the bills in detail and it is essential that he presents them quickly because that is what was announced at the congress.”criticized Pedro Nuno Santos, arguing that the Social Democrats are taking too long to explain the proposal.
“As time passes, we will have more and more doubts about the universe of beneficiaries and the costs of the measure. And what is observed – and what is related to the reference value of the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly (CSI)) 820 euros – we are talking about more than 500 million euros per year compared to the costs we already have with the CSI”he claimed.
On the other hand, the former Minister of Infrastructure considered that the PSD historically “does not have the same loyalty to the pension system” as the PS, recalling that “over the years” the right and in particular the PSD have submitted proposals privatization of the pension system.
When asked by journalists whether – if elected head of government – he will accept the decision of the independent technical commission, which has the mandate to study the location of the new airport, or whether he will “do the controversial” order of October 2022, said Pedro Nuno Santos replied that he was convinced that the subject and the various proposals will have to be discussed.
“The idea I have is that we will have different solutions, pros and cons and that the public debate will therefore be more powerful and the government’s decision will be more transparent”he insisted.
Still at the new airport, he argued that efforts should be made to reach a more global agreement on the location, not only with the PSD but also with other party forces, emphasizing that the decision must be taken quickly because “it is already too much has lasted decades and the country must have the ability to decide”
“Worse than deciding is not deciding. Better done than perfect”he emphasized.
Regarding the TAP privatization decree, which is currently frozen, Pedro Nuno Santos reiterated that the company must be open to partnerships.
“I have always advocated that TAP’s capital be opened to aviation groups. TAP cannot be isolated in the global aviation market and must seek a partnership, and this work will be done. As for the percentage, we leave that to the negotiations.”he said.
Source: DN
