As the State of the Nation debate approaches this Thursday, the opposition parties have unleashed a wave of criticism against the government, unanimously agreeing that the state of the country is far from ideal. The main topics on the parliamentary agenda for the debate include Health, Housing, and Tax matters.
Supporters of the Luís Montenegro-led executive believe that the country’s situation is naturally improving. Hugo Soares highlighted the government’s vigorous action. “In just one month, this government has demonstrated significant momentum for work and transformation of the country. The State of the Nation analysis cannot be dissociated from that,” he stated in an interview.
Following the parliamentary recess, Hugo Soares stated that the social-democratic bench will push for lobbying regulation and address housing and mobility issues.
The parliamentary leader of the PSD praised the government’s “tremendous work drive” in the early months of its term and assured that the executive parties have no preferred negotiation partners and are open to dialogue with all of the opposition.
Lusa | 06:50 – 15/07/2025
The CDS-PP retains the same viewpoint, with the party’s parliamentary leader asserting that the recent elections provided “greater sustainability” to the government to continue an essential process of tax relief and income redistribution for the Portuguese people.
The primary focus for the party, after the parliamentary recess, will be the next State Budget. Specifically, the document should create conditions for tax relief for businesses and contribute to an improved quality of life and encourage young people to stay in Portugal.
CDS-PP’s deputy João Almeida stated that the current political cycle gives the government “greater sustainability” and conditions to continue the tax reduction process, advocating that this should be the priority for the upcoming State Budget.
Lusa | 06:39 – 15/07/2025
The largest opposition party, through Pedro Pinto, acknowledges that “the country is not in a good state” and that “the government is trying to follow in the footsteps of Chega.” In an interview, the parliamentary leader added that this is “a good sign” as it demonstrates that the party’s proposals are “sound and valid for the country’s functioning and progress.” These proposals include “a radical tax reduction” for all Portuguese people, among others.
The leader of the Chega bench also pointed out the need to address failures in INEM and emergency services, as well as justice issues, emphasizing that it “must be swifter” and calling for responses to combat corruption.
The parliamentary leader of Chega welcomed the government’s proximity in migration proposals but warned that the executive must choose its preferred party for dialogue and cannot negotiate simultaneously with his party and the PS.
Lusa | 06:47 – 15/07/2025
On the socialist bench, the sentiment is not entirely discordant, at least regarding the issues that need resolving, particularly Health.
In an interview, the PS parliamentary leader noted that “more Portuguese people lack family doctors,” there are “more closed emergencies, and the INEM emergency assistance cases keep ceasing.”
For the socialists, the post-recess priorities include cost of living and Portuguese incomes, with close monitoring of the health situation and the start of the school year.
The PS parliamentary leader, Eurico Brilhante Dias, accused the government of prioritizing dialogue with Chega and stated that the Portuguese have realized that the socialists are leading the opposition.
Lusa | 06:45 – 15/07/2025
When questioning parties about the country’s state, the health sector remains a significant concern. The candidate for the Liberal Initiative leadership identifies the sector as one of the “most critical at this moment.”
“The lingering question is whether year after year we will remain with the situation at hand: a country in degradation, public services declining, people’s lives worsening, and without a glimpse of solutions,” stated Mariana Leitão in the debate context.
On the liberal agenda, housing is also highlighted as a priority area. Mariana Leitão criticizes government measures that promoted demand while neglecting supply, pushing real estate prices even higher.
The leader of the IL parliamentary, Mariana Leitão, accused the government of inaction and of “continuing to postpone solutions” amid a “country in degradation” with declining public services and worsening life standards, criticizing the absence of measures.
Lusa | 06:43 – 15/07/2025
On the left, Livre continues its wave of criticism against the government, accusing it of governing “in a populist manner, without concrete concern for the real problems of the country and its people, whether Portuguese or foreign.” The party’s spokesperson also says the executive advances proposals that are not aligned with the country’s effective issues but “create a lot of spectacle and essentially respond to the far-right’s agenda.”
In statements to Lusa, Isabel Mendes Lopes expressed particular concern about house prices and the “quite chaotic situation” of the NHS, particularly in obstetrics and pediatrics emergencies and INEM.
The spokesperson for Livre, Isabel Mendes Lopes, accused the PSD/CDS-PP executive of dismissing the country’s “real problems,” governing “in a populist manner,” and called for more dialogue in the Assembly of the Republic.
Lusa | 06:37 – 15/07/2025
The Portuguese Communist Party states that the country’s situation “has been worsening” in various sectors. Paula Santos regrets the low wages and pensions, the rising prices of essential goods, the Housing crisis, and the public school situation. She also doesn’t forget the Health issue “with public services deteriorating,” particularly in gynecology and obstetrics emergencies.
“What we see from this government is a path that deepens inequalities and injustices,” criticized the PCP parliamentary leader in an interview with Lusa.
The PCP parliamentary leader, Paula Santos, accused the government of choosing a path of “imposition” and “propaganda” instead of dialogue, and considered that the country’s situation “has been worsening” in multiple areas.
Lusa | 06:41 – 15/07/2025
The Bloco de Esquerda echoes the PCP’s stance and reiterates that the government tries to “hide behind a populist agenda, a single theme” to avoid addressing the country’s problems.
The coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda said in an interview that the party’s current concern is to “recentre the debate” on issues like wages, housing, and health. Mariana Mortágua predicts a worsening of problems in the health sector, noting that the government “has already committed funds for more military spending even though there are no rescue helicopters for INEM.”
The BE considered the state of the nation “the worst possible” and accused the government of hiding behind a “populist agenda,” suggesting a refocus of the political debate on topics like health and housing.
Lusa | 06:33 – 15/07/2025
The PAN also delivers a negative assessment of the country’s current state. “We knew what was coming, not only from the right but also from these backward steps in policies by Luís Montenegro’s government,” said Inês de Sousa Real in an interview.
The single-deputy underlined the wait times in emergency rooms, emphasizing the “completely unacceptable backtracks” in maternal and child health and mentioned the “scourge for families” represented by the housing crisis.
The party’s spokesperson did not exclude the animal cause, stressing the need for “adequate municipal kennels” or providing funds to caregivers and associations, while also stating that the executive does not prioritize the climate change dossier.
The spokesperson for Pessoas-Animais-Natureza (PAN), Inês Sousa Real, made a negative assessment of the current state of the nation, accusing the PSD/CDS-PP government of leading “backward policies” and rejecting dialogue with smaller parties.
Lusa | 06:31 – 15/07/2025
The newly-elected JPP claims that the “political class is completely oblivious to the real problems of the country,” but noted that he sees in the current executive a “willingness to resolve various issues.” Filipe Sousa said in an interview that he sees “glaring failures” in health, education, and security in the country, and also underscored the “immigration issue.”
For the State of the Nation debate, the single deputy plans to confront the government on the issues of autonomous regions, notably with “strengthening autonomous powers,” revising the regional finance law, and valuing the International Business Centre of Madeira.
The single deputy of JPP, Filipe Sousa, acknowledged the government’s willingness to resolve the country’s issues, despite stating that clarifications are needed in parliament regarding the situation in health, education, and immigration.
Lusa | 06:29 – 15/07/2025
This Thursday, the parliament will debate the State of the Nation in what will be the first of the new legislature. It seems likely that issues in Health will be a main focus of the session. The debate will feature the presence of the prime minister and the rest of the executive.
