The president of the republic defended this Wednesday that the forced rent of empty houses announced by the government would be “aided in reconsideration”, and expressed the hope that PS and PSD reach an agreement to solve the housing problems.
Speaking to RTP, outside Lisbon airport, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa specified what he was referring to when he referred to “poster laws” in the editorial of Correio da Manhã TV (CMTV), which proclaim principles that have not been implemented.
Asked about the “poster laws”, the head of state replied: “On forced leasing I have been saying the same thing for a week now, there is still a lot to be debated in parliamentwhat was announced would benefit from reconsideration because the councils have already said they won’t help, they don’t have the resources to help track down vacant houses and then the system is very bureaucratic and cumbersome”.
However, Marcelo believed that “a lot of water will still flow under the bridges” until the diploma is approved by the Assembly of the Republic.
“Let the water flow, there is time to think, to change, to improve. If it improves, we all win. If it does not improve and I understand that it still needs to be entered, I will implement it, if I understand that it shouldn’t be, I’m sending it back to parliament,” said.
The president of the republic defended agreements between the two major parties that would allow the passage of “problem-solving laws” on housing.
“I hope that the negotiations in parliament, namely with the PSD, will lead to laws that can be passed and that mainly serve to solve problems,” he stressed.
Rent support and housing loans. “Maybe if we can move on,” says PR
Marcelo recalled on Tuesday that he issued the government’s decree-law creating support for rents and home loans, recognizing again that “maybe it could have been broader, more generic and not so strict in the application of the criteria”.
As for the implicit response of the Prime Minister, António Costa, in the referendum of the same decree-law, a standard that determines its submission for publication in the Diário da República, the head of state was satisfied.
“The Prime Minister has inaugurated a practice that is very good”, namely “explaining the measures to the Portuguese”. “It is good that he explains that there are other measures and other measures are being adopted and that what is presented fiscally is enough, this is the dynamics of democracy,” he insisted.
However, Marcelo did not fail to repeat that “the president thinks that maybe we can go further, the prime minister thinks that no, that it is enough to stay where he is” to conclude: “We will see later whether the support for tenants and those who suffer a lot from mortgage rates, whether the targets are met or not. Steps are being taken.”
In statements to RTP, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that expects lawmakers to extend the presidential term “more than two and a half years.”
The President of the Republic issued the Government Decree-Law creating support for rents and home loans, considering that they are “necessary and urgent measures” but “regrets that they are not more comprehensive”.
Source: DN
