The parliamentary leader of the PS, Eurico Brilhante Dias, opined this Monday that the European Commission’s forecasts are “the mirror of a well-governed country, on the right track”, and praised the precaution of the executive in various contexts of crisis.
This position was expressed by the parliamentary leader of the PS, Eurico Brilhante Dias, in the Assembly of the Republic after the European Commission revised upwards the growth forecast of the Portuguese economy for this year to 2.4%, the third highest percentage in the euro zone, appear to be more optimistic than the government. Brussels also forecasts that the Portuguese deficit will fall to 0.1% this year, the lowest in the eurozone.
As the economic forecasts from Brussels are “good news”, Eurico Brilhante Dias stressed that “Portugal is in the ‘top’ three in economic growth after being one of the countries with the most robust economic growth in 2022”.
“The government is governing well: again, with Dr. António Costa, with the PS, despite the greatest difficulties we have had with the pandemic, but now with the war and the fight against inflation, the Portuguese side by side, side, who protects their income, who rules while they defend the country,” he insisted.
The socialist also criticized the opposition, saying that “all predictions failed”.
And it is no coincidence that Dr Luís Montenegro, who reacted so quickly and commented on the events in Portuguese political life, did not comment once on the results of the Portuguese economy in the first quarter of this year until this Monday and so far. At the moment, he has not yet commented on the European Commission’s forecasts, because they are the mirror of a well-governed country, on the right track,” he concludes.
The socialist leader was asked about data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) released last week, according to which the average total monthly gross salary in Portugal fell by 0.6% in real terms in the first quarter, compared to the same period into 2022, with only the private sector recording real wage increases.
Brilhante Dias replied that the INE figures “do not coincide directly with those of Social Security”, which say that “gross salary increased by 8% in 2023 compared to 2022” and that “average gross base salary increased by almost 9%” .
“The INE data says there is a real increase in private sector salaries of 0.3%,” he continued, adding that “where a deterioration is noted is civil service wages”.
“And therefore the concern we have when looking at careers and the valuation of wages in the civil service,” he said.
Also in public service, the socialist reminded that “there is an agreement between the government and the unions” and that the executive will “comply with this agreement”.
“And depending on the inflation numbers – which, by the way, are now forecast more favorable than in February – that will of course be the case and will reflect an increase in civil servant salaries, in a progressive and prudent way, as we have been doing,” added .
The deputy emphasized that “pensions will be increased again after the support given in November 2022, civil servant salaries have been increased and will have an interim increase”, “one million vulnerable families” will be supported “with additional benefits” and, among other things, increased child benefit.
“The Portuguese will gradually, with adequate policies, feel, they already feel, but they will feel an increase in their purchasing power in the near future,” he said.
Brilhante Dias stressed that “Portugal has a government that manages public accounts with due care to always have availability and income to support the most vulnerable”.
When asked whether the government should continue with more support, the deputy points out that “the support measures will now be applied in May and, in the case of pensions, will also take effect in July”.
“We will continue to evaluate, but it seems clear to me that the budget deficit is reduced (…) and therefore the government is able to support families and the Portuguese at all times,” he said. .
Source: DN
