“We learned something that was clear to me: that the basis for calculating the increase in pensions will be the one that corresponds to the increase that would have resulted from the application of the law. I have never doubted it would happen.” declared Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to journalists, at the entrance of Culturgest, in Lisbon.
In terms of pensions, the government is now doing “what it could have done when at some point it decided to wait to see if it could do it,” said the head of state.
“And I always thought I would because if I didn’t, there would be legal trouble,” he stressed.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, speaking in general terms about the most recent measures taken by the government to mitigate the effects of inflation, believed that these are intended to “stay within these months until summer”, adding : “More may be needed . , I find it difficult that there are not more”.
Regarding the 2023-2027 stability program presented today by the government, the president of the republic considered that “the plan is optimistic, based on the principle that, overcoming the end of the war, the current situation of inflation and delay in the recovery of the European economy, whether it will make progress”.
The Prime Minister announced today that pensions will be updated in 2024 according to the calculation formula provided for in the Basic Law of Social Security, given the “positive” evolution of the Portuguese economy.
When asked if he thinks the program is too optimistic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied that “if it were for this year, for next year it would be more determined by what the current reality is”, but since it extends to 2027 “would it can be relatively optimistic” because “it offers the opportunity to expect more growth, more investment and better income distribution”.
“Reality will show later whether it’s true or not,” he noted.
The head of state said that this program “had to be presented right now”, “that is, it is not exactly a new reality”, and stressed that it “goes beyond the current legislature”, which ends in 2026, so “it The next cabinet will have to make do with this plan.”
Source: DN
