During the debate on the Government’s Program in the Assembly of the Republic, centered on queries directed at the Minister for State Reform, Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, key positions were asserted.
In a statement representing Chega, Deputy Bruno Nunes claimed state reform as his party’s proposal “since 2019” and challenged the minister to clarify “how he intends to carry out this state reform,” which requires parliamentary legislation approval.
The Chega deputy urged the Government to clarify its stance, expressing willingness from his party to partner on this initiative: “How do you intend to do it? Will it be a tutti-frutti logic with the PS, or will you finally break free from the left-wing shackles and sit down with us?”
Bruno Nunes argued that “without Chega, there is no way to revise the entire basic law that needs reconsideration,” and asked the minister if “he accepts or not,” in a phrase that was partially inaudible due to time constraints.
“With whom are we going to reform the state? I would dare to say: with everyone,” was the minister’s response.
“But is there anyone in this chamber who opposes this state reform? Is there anyone in this chamber who opposes making citizens’ lives easier? Because, if there is, let them speak now. I would like to hear who opposes this reform in the form we presented,” added Gonçalo Matias.
The Minister for State Reform was questioned by Carlos Guimarães Pinto from IL about “deadlines and dates” and by Jorge Botelho from PS about when “the first mergers and closures are expected.”
“The commitment I can make here is that we will have the measures absolutely defined, scheduled, and absolutely implemented very shortly,” Gonçalo Matias replied, without committing to any specific timeline.
Additionally, Bruno Nunes from Chega and Paula Santos from PCP inquired about potential changes to the Integrated System for Management and Performance Evaluation in Public Administration (SIADAP), but the minister did not provide details on this matter.
The minister also did not identify potential public entities for closure or what will happen to their respective staff, concerns raised by PS.
Addressing the minister, Rui Tavares from Livre referred to the example of poet Bulhão Pato, who “entered eternity” with a clam recipe, telling him: “Several ministers for State Reform have failed, and I do not wish for you to start inventing your own clam recipe ‘à Bulhão Pato’.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, remarked: “It was always a good alternative to state reform, let’s say, practical and concrete.”
“As for the clams ‘à Bulhão Pato’, Mr. Deputy, I love cooking very much, but I did not come here to cook. I came here to act, and I came here to carry out state reform,” the minister later responded.
