Pedro Nuno Santos met today with the president of the Portuguese Business Confederation (CIP), Armindo Monteiro, to discuss their economic views, focusing notably on differences regarding corporate tax reduction.
“We perceived no clear intent or vision from Luís Montenegro, neither in his discourse nor his ambitions, to transform the Portuguese economy. This is our primary concern,” stated the PS leader.
Pedro Nuno Santos indicated that the prime minister has only one solution, believing in “a silver bullet called corporate tax (IRC).”
He criticized this stance as a misguided policy, arguing that it involves an indiscriminate cut in the IRC for all companies, irrespective of the profits’ use.
The PS’s approach to IRC diverges, aiming to favor companies that allocate their profits appropriately, according to the socialist leader.
“Our economy’s true transformation hinges on companies using their profits for reinvestment, whether in increasing production capacity, research and development, or even capitalizing the company itself,” he explained.
The PS leader prioritized launching a transformation process for the Portuguese economy by rallying entrepreneurs and associations to develop a strategy for an advanced economy in Portugal.
Prior to Pedro Nuno Santos’s statements, Armindo Monteiro referenced Germany as an example, where “two parties usually take turns in governance but did not hesitate” to form a coalition government.
Monteiro remarked that terms like ‘central bloc’ carry negative connotations, much like ‘profit’ does in Portugal, suggesting that the notion of a central bloc also bears a stigma.
The CIP president expressed disbelief that “the two parties representing the majority of Portuguese” couldn’t find “a solution for the country,” advocating for a central bloc as a potential governance model.
In response, the PS leader emphasized that “PS and PSD are two different parties,” which “is good as it stands.”
He added, “This doesn’t mean there can’t be agreements on essential matters of the State and country.”
Pedro Nuno used the opportunity to highlight that over the past year, the PS demonstrated its commitment to the national interest by enabling the PSD/CDS State Budget.
“We provided all conditions for the AD’s governance. That is why we, the Socialist Party—along with many Portuguese—demand the same from the PSD if the Socialist Party wins the next legislative elections,” he reiterated, maintaining a stance he has defended in various contexts.
