The PS allows today, by abstention, the second budget of Carlos Moedas before the Chamber of Lisbon, but one of the election flags of the president of the municipality will be on its way. The opposition is preparing to reject the IMT (Municipal Tax Transfers Real Estate) exemption for the purchase of houses up to 250,000 euros for young people up to the age of 35.
The measure is already there unfavorable vote promised by the PS, Bloco de Esquerda, by the independent councilor Paula Marques and by Livre – eight votes against seven for the Novos Tempos coalition. Only the votes of the PCP could theoretically turn this scenario around, but that is not going to happen: the two communist council members also vote against. João Ferreira compares the IMT’s exemption to the increase in IRS returns to Lisbon residents, saying that the two measures are “exemplary of what it is to use resources that would be extremely valuable” to solve the major problems of the to dissolve the city in favor of “privileged minorities”.
For the communist council member, the IMT exemption is no more than an advantage “for those who could already buy a house”. The PCP will therefore vote against, as well as the increase in the IRS’s return – the party will in effect put forward an alternative proposal, defending that the council keep the 5% of the IRS it is entitled to, not making any refund to the civilian. Only with the exemption provided for in the current budget, there is “57 million euros that, for 75%, will go to the 20% of the richest families in the city”, he argues, stating that the resources from this tax that end up with the municipality must be invested in social support and housing.
Rent subsidy continues with opposition votes
Instead of the promised IMT exemption, Carlos Moedas predictably receives another measure in the budget, presented by the PS. Socialists propose the creation of one subsidy Leasing Youth, with the same allocation that was provided for the IMT exemption – 4.5 million euros🇧🇷 “With this measure, the Chamber of Lisbon subsidizes young people who rent houses on the free market for a maximum of 450 euros per household”, guaranteeing that rents “will never exceed 30% of the net income of young tenants” , the PS argued during the presentation of the measure.
In addition to the favorable votes of the PS, the proposal will receive the support of the Bloco de Esquerda, which announced yesterday that it will propose “an extension of the scope of the proposal to university students without housing solutions in Lisbon”.
Livre will also vote in favour, arguing that the exemption advocated by Coins is a “measure that only benefits the highest echelons of society and does not contribute to a housing policy that supports the middle class,” said Rui Tavares. will vote against and support the alternative proposal’ of the PS, according to a note from the party.
Independent councilor of Cidadãos por Lisboa Paula Marques (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) will also vote for the PS proposal and against the IMT home purchase exemption, defending that Carlos Moedas should use these values to strengthen responses to homelessness, student housing, the expansion of free transportationvictims of domestic violence, families with few resources, who are most affected by the crisis of rising prices of essential goods”.
As for the PCP, João Ferreira says that the PS proposal “has problems” insofar as affordable leasing imposes restrictions on the universe of beneficiaries. In addition, in the “current context of overheating of the does not cease to be a form of government subsidy for this overheating”. Therefore, the PCP does not close the vote the day before, waiting for today’s debate, but it will be very unlikely to vote against. That is, Carlos Moedas will have the budget approved at the meeting of the City Council executive that will take place this Wednesday morning, but “amputated” from one of its electoral flags and replaced by an alternative measure approved by the opposition.
Source: DN
