António Costa admitted in Jornal das Oito on TVI that “inflation is one of the most difficult phenomena to combat” and that it was the government’s choice to tackle the causes of price increases, such as energy and fertilizers, rather than the to follow the path of neighboring countries. Spain, which reduced VAT on essential goods to 0%.
“We have followed what is happening in Spain and the news we have is that this VAT reduction was immediately offset by the margins on sales. We must learn from others, including the mistakes others make, and learn our own lessons “, he claimed.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that “8% inflation is disrupting the lives of every family” and that “this is not the time for the country to be happy”, but he was optimistic: “The trend being verified is a slowdown of Inflation This year’s increases have already covered 2022 inflation.”
Regarding the teachers’ claims, Costa says the teachers have accumulated “15 years of frustration” and does not believe the former contraceptive partners are behind the strikes. “There is a lot of talk about STOP and STOP has nothing to do with PCP and BE,” he stressed, after devaluing his absence from the negotiations (“The government speaks with one voice”) and revealed that it will not be possible to restoration of the full-time teaching career. “If we apply this measure to all sectors that have the same problem, it will cost the State 1.3 billion euros per year.”
With regard to housing, a theme that dominated the day and the beginning of the interview, the Prime Minister clarified that houses sublet by the state will be allocated by lot and that landlords will deduct the value of any works from the rent they pay. will receive. “The State only takes administrative ownership if people don’t put their house on the rental market after x years. The owners get the cost of work deducted from their rent, but when they get the house back, they have a refurbished house,” he says . stressed out.
Costa also explained that the homes the state buys will be bought “at market price” but believes the capital gains exemption “could lower the price of these properties”.
Source: DN
