André Ventura did what was expected: he took advantage of being the only opposition party without any proposal to amend the OE2023 approved to shoot this Friday in the final session of discussion and vote on the bill in parliament, addressing the government (but actually with the PSD and IL in their sights): “Good thing, because we are the only opposition they have in this Parliament!”
He then addressed the deputies of the other parties on the right of the PS as “comrades and colleagues” who challenged them to together “be able to build the majority that will overthrow the government of António Costa in the next parliamentary elections cast”. This – he said – is the Executive’s “year of the beginning of autumn”. And now “the divisions we have in this Parliament have become crystal clear and will become even more pronounced in the years to come.”
“If there was any doubt, the intervention of the representative of the anti-democratic far right was very clear about his political options.”
If Ventura – as always – seemed interested in polarizing the debate between himself and the socialist majority, he had an objective ally in the PS.
Eurico Brilhante Dias, parliamentary leader of the Socialists, took advantage of his speech at the end of the debate to accuse the PSD of not asserting itself as an “alternative to the PS government” because they are “following in the footsteps of populist far right “. And – he continued – “the right has given up on this debate” because “it continues to bet on the politics of business and affairs”, preferring “the populist agenda” to the “debate on the problems facing the country is facing”. “If there was any doubt, the intervention of the representative of the anti-democratic far right was very clear about his political options.”
Ventura immediately took advantage of the words of the head of the PS Bank to victimize himself, through an interpellation to the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the Socialist Augusto Santos Silva: “I would like to ask you whether the it is democratically acceptable that a party elected on the same terms as Chega was elected, a party recognized by the Constitutional Court, the third largest in this chamber, elected in 2022 as the third largest national political force, if it is legitimate that a parliamentary leader calls us undemocratic and not part of the democratic parliamentary system”. And Eurico Brilhantes Dias countered: “Whoever says repeatedly that it is an anti-system party, and because we live in a democracy, that is anti-democratic, those are the members of Chega. Whoever is anti-system in Portugal is anti-democratic.” , the only one we have in Portugal”.
“We are not a protest party, we are really alternative, because we want to rule Portugal under normal circumstances.”
Stuck in this polarization, the PSD tried to defend its own place and create a contrast to Chega. “In the non-socialist, centre-right space, opposition to this government is not done by shouting, it is not done by defaming, it is not done by insulting, it is not done by lying, it is not done by try to divide the Portuguese”, defended the head of the group. “orange”, Miranda Sarmento. In other words: “In the centre-right, the opposition consists of the 77 PSD deputies, with truth, with serenity, with pragmatism”. Later, when the debate was over, it was the turn of the PSD President, Luís Montenegro, to address journalists in the corridors of Parliament to reaffirm this argument: “We are not a party of indignation, of protest, we are really alternative, because we want to govern Portugal under normal circumstances.”
The debate ended as planned. The bill for the national budget for next year was approved, with only the votes for the PS majority. The sole delegates of PAN and Livre (Inês Sousa Real and Rui Tavares, respectively) abstained. The other formations – PSD, Chega, IL, PCP and Bloco voted against. Now the document only has to go to Belém so that Marcelo can proclaim it.
OPPOSITION PROPOSALS APPROVED
Adhering to the speech that the PS majority is a dialogue majority, the parliamentary leader of the Socialists, Eurico Brilhante Dias, ended his participation in this OE2023 debate by justifying the opposition’s amendments that his party made possible. There were 67 in total, from all but one party, Chega. The PS itself has submitted 55 amendments to the government proposal, all of which have apparently been approved. In total, the parties submitted some 1800 amendment proposals to the OE2023. With about two dozen each, PAN and Livre were the most favored opposition parties. Here is a summary of what the PS allowed to pass, party by party.
PAN
> Pilot project for the distribution of personal hygiene products for women.
> Carrying out a study on the impact of what is called the “pink tax” (how more women than men spend on similar products).
> Creation of a Gisberta Space, to provide an integrated and specialized response to LGBTI people who are victims of domestic or gender-based violence.
> Extend access to the social energy tariff to families with a total annual income of 6,272 euros or less.
> Maintenance in 2023 of the incentive to introduce low-emission vehicles into consumption, extended to bicycles and electric motorcycles.
> One million euros for wildlife sanctuaries.
> Extension of the carbon tax to private jets (from July 2023).
> IRS tax deduction supported on purchase of public transportation tickets.
> 6% VAT on butter, margarine and vegetable creams obtained from products of vegetable origin and vegetable drinks and yoghurts.
> Increase of the allocation for animal collection centers by 1.05 million euros.
Free
> Creation of a professional training plan in human rights for those who work with the public in central, regional and local government.
> Human resources training in construction support programs and access to public housing.
> Promotion and protection of the Mirande language.
> Elaboration of a White Paper on sex work and prostitution.
> 100% reimbursement of the vaccine for children allergic to cow’s milk.
> Five million euros for the Cultural Heritage Guarantee Fund.
> Increase of the VAT-free annual income limit for the self-employed from the current EUR 12,500 to EUR 13,500.
> Create a National Rail Pass for regional trains (49 euros) by the end of the second quarter of 2023.
> Increase allowance for single parents from now 35% to 50% up to the 1st income bracket.
PCP
> Proposal for the gradual elimination of architectural barriers.
> Reinforcement of one million euros in the funds of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests.
> Extension from August 20 to September 20 of the deadline for submitting the VAT return for June or the second quarter.
> Resource guarantee to the Dutch Working Conditions Authority (ACT) to inform companies about legislation that protects victims of domestic violence.
Left block
> implementation of the National Ecological Procurement Strategy
> Strict rules for the IMT exemption granted in the context of the resale of real estate.
> The advance payment of the rent cannot exceed two months.
psd
> IRS deduction of part of the costs of periodic subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, including digital ones.
> Expansion of the range of situations for using plan and savings credits, such as PPR, when amortizing the home loan, during the year 2023, so that the repayment can be made without tax penalties before five years have elapsed .
Liberal initiative
> In anticipation of the publication of the results of the higher education entrance examination.
> Acceleration of regulations for the operation of the deposit and reimbursement system for single-use packaging.
Source: DN
