During the final session that preceded the approval of the state budget for the following year (OE2024) at the end of the morning on Wednesday, there was hardly a single party that forgot to launch the campaign for the parliamentary elections on March 10.
Calls for votes followed: “We could achieve even more if we had not just one deputy in this Assembly of the Republic, but more deputies like we will have” (Rui Tavares, from Livre); “[O PAN é] a useful alternative for democracy, for the causes we represent, for their concerns, and to ensure that there is a political force in this Parliament that can at the same time be a reference for stability and responsibility” (Inês Sousa Real, from PAN ); “The achievement of parliamentary elections is an opportunity to build a political alternative […] that improves the living conditions of the people, progress, justice and development” (Paula Santos, from PCP); “[Queremos] contribute to the growth of Portugal, so that the Portuguese can stay and those who have emigrated can return [e isso] will begin to take place on this Monday, which, I tell you now, is the Monday of March 11” (Rui Rocha, Liberal Initiative); “It is our chance, the chance that the country must cut off with impoverishment, with corruption, with low pensions, with a country that is backward, with a socialism that makes us poorer every day” (André Ventura, from Chega); “But there is an alternative! With concrete measures in the social field, housing, education, health care, public services, taxes and the economy. That alternative is the PSD!” (Miranda Sarmento, PSD); “Now that we have given the floor back to the citizens, we are convinced that the PS’s progressive program will meet the wishes and needs of Portuguese families” (Eurico Brilhante Dias, PS).
As he sat silently on the government bench, during what was – from all indications – the last major parliamentary debate of his political career, António Costa was heavily criticized by all benches. PSD and Liberal Initiative strongly pushed the argument that Costa did not resign because of the last paragraph of the PGR statement which said an investigation was underway at the Supreme Court, but rather because of the deterioration of governance. “A half-baked excuse” because “the government collapsed from within, surrounded by poorly explained cases,” accused the leader of the “orange” bank.
The exception in the attacks was apparently with the PS. Eurico Brilhante Dias managed to move the (still) head of government when he said: “Portugal was fortunate to have António Costa in charge during the most difficult moments of the pandemic, the most disruptive event of our lives and , we might even say , of the last century”. “In politics, as in life, there are values that are never excessive and much less essential: one of them is gratitude.”
Costa did not speak in the debate, but later, upon his departure, he made a short statement to journalists, defending his legacy: “The country has more capacity, has more freedom and can certainly follow a path of continuous improvement.”
As expected, OE2024 was only approved with the positive votes of the PS majority. PAN and Livre abstained from voting. The rest voted against.
Source: DN
