“Problems continue to persist in various areas (…) and the question that remains is whether year after year we will continue with the situation we have on our hands: a country in degradation, public services in deterioration, people’s lives worsening, and no solutions in sight,” stated Mariana Leitão in a statement regarding the upcoming debate on the state of the nation scheduled for Thursday.
The leader of the liberal bench argued that the Government “has an obligation to act” and “cannot continue to postpone essential solutions,” adding that the previous administration “threw money at problems” without implementing reforms and, even after the May legislative elections, “structural problems still exist.”
Mariana Leitão identified health as “one of the most critical sectors at the moment,” emphasizing that “the problems persist” within INEM even after the minister stated that she “would spend 70% of her time solving INEM’s problems.”
“Everything remains the same, without any accountability in this matter being assumed,” she criticized.
The sole candidate for the IL leadership also highlighted housing as a priority area, criticizing the executive for promoting a “series of measures in the area of demand” while neglecting the supply side, thus driving up prices.
The IL also criticizes the Government in education, stating that “absolutely nothing is known about the current reality of students without classes,” vowing to pressure the executive to follow an “alternative path.”
Among the party’s priorities for the return from the parliamentary recess, Mariana Leitão emphasized the inquiry commission into INEM—proposed by the liberals and already approved—as well as the response to the housing crisis, promoting supply-side measures, tax simplification, and state reform.
Regarding state reform, Mariana Leitão advocated for simplification, “cuts in bureaucracy,” “greater agility on the part of the State,” and the realization of privatizations of state-owned companies like TAP.
The deputy stated that the party will “scrutinize the Government’s activity in this matter,” given the creation of the Ministry of State Reform, from which the liberals expect results.
“What is required of the Government is to do what is necessary and not constantly try to hide behind the excuse of having ‘inherited a heavy burden,'” she asserted, emphasizing that the Government has already had time to make some necessary changes.
The debate on the state of the nation is scheduled for Thursday, the first since the XXV Constitutional Government took office, with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the rest of the government team in attendance.
