The debate on the Major Policy Options for 2025-2029 took place today in parliament, where PS Deputy António Mendonça Mendes described it as an opportunity to “recap past matters,” arguing that this document is “a settling of past scores and an inability to truthfully face present challenges.”
“It’s very clear that the narrative of a heavy, inherited economic burden does not hold up to any intellectually honest discussion,” he stated.
Chega Deputy Pedro Frazão criticized the Government for presenting a plan of “grand illusions” for the country after a “weak Budget.”
“Your program is nothing more than a propaganda pamphlet to hide a total lack of vision, courage, and absolute competence,” he said.
For the PSD, one of the parties supporting the Government, João Antunes dos Santos claimed that the country is on the right track, citing The Economist’s recent designation of Portugal as the economy of the year and questioned the motivations behind Thursday’s general strike.
“Thus, it’s unclear why there is a general strike. A hasty, unfounded, unjustified general strike motivated by the interests of those who want to gain on the streets what they lost at the polls,” he accused.
According to the PSD Deputy, “the left did not understand the message the Portuguese gave them in the legislative elections and, unsatisfied with its decline, wants to drag its union arms along.”
João Antunes dos Santos argued that the country, the economy, and workers “need this labor reform,” admitting it would be “much easier” for the Government to do nothing, as he accuses the PS of having done while in office.
Carlos Guimarães Pinto (IL) warned that if the document were taken seriously, the debate would not have lasted only 37 minutes, which he considered “quite symbolic,” illustrating the importance given to the Major Policy Options.
Paula Santos (PCP) was perplexed that the Major Policy Options are discussed after the State Budget has been approved and emphasized that the plan favors big interests, attacks workers, and public services.
Rui Tavares (Livre) suggested the debate on the Major Policy Options could have been “structural” and noted that there were never conditions for budget surpluses and a qualified workforce in democracy.
Inês Sousa Real (PAN) predicted that her party would not support the document, noting that it concerns “a catalog of half-truths, not serving the country, but the same as always.”
Deputy Filipe Sousa (JPP) argued that the plan does not consider “the specificities of the Autonomous Regions,” requesting the creation of binding regional plans with clear targets.
In closing the debate, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Carlos Abreu Amorim insisted that “if it were to leave everything the same,” other political forces would do much better than the Government.
“The Major Policy Options are not a scheduled operational document […], they are a strategic instrument,” he concluded.
