“The PS proposes a tenth, and on top of that, they don’t have the decency to admit it is an idea from Livre which they copied,” remarked Rui Tavares during a session in Coimbra introducing candidates for the May 18 Legislative Elections in that constituency.
The deputy and party leader was commenting on the PS’s proposal to grant all children born from the start of this year 500 euros in savings certificates.
According to Rui Tavares, the concept of social inheritance, introduced about a year ago by Livre, “will truly make a difference for young people entering adulthood, averaging 5,000 euros progressively adjusted based on the family’s income bracket.”
By Livre’s calculations, 500 euros per child amounts to roughly 700 euros when the beneficiary turns 18, “which is not enough to cover a master’s tuition fee.”
“But 10 times more than that, which is what we propose, could make a real difference if we redirected the funds lost through the IRS Jovem towards a social inheritance,” he argued.
During his speech, Rui Tavares emphasized that the current political crisis is due to the misgovernance of PSD leader Luís Montenegro, citing the worsening health system, inadequate housing—issues he had pledged to resolve—as well as “neglect and disdain regarding accountability in high political offices.”
The Livre spokesperson reiterated the party’s openness to a progressive, leftist, ecological governance solution. However, it should be through a “historic commitment” ensuring that the National Health Service remains public and public education investment increases.
This commitment would also need to ensure a minimum annual public housing investment of 500 million euros “to build the housing the country lacks.”
According to Rui Tavares, there should also be guarantees against backsliding in rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights, recognition of Palestine’s independence, and continued support for Ukraine.
“With these points on the table, we are willing to discuss providing quality governance for the country, aiming for higher standards in political office,” he emphasized.
As the lead candidate for the Coimbra constituency in the upcoming Legislative Elections, Livre has introduced education professional André Chichorro de Carvalho.
