Member of the European Parliament, Catarina Martins, has expressed her disagreement with the Portuguese Government’s request to the European Commission for the activation of the derogation clause to invest in defense.
Martins believes this measure will only worsen the state of the Portuguese economy.
“The AD Government has just asked the European Commission for an exception from budgetary rules for defense spending. I understand this was agreed upon with the Socialist Party, and that the entire right-wing and even Livre agree. But it is a mistake. For housing, health, or education, the squeeze will only tighten,” said the former leader of the Left Bloc.
The AD Government has just asked the European Commission to exempt defense spending from budgetary rules. I understand this was agreed upon with the Socialist Party, and that the entire right-wing and even Livre agree. But it is a mistake. For housing, health, or education, the squeeze will only tighten.
— Catarina Martins (@catarina_mart) April 23, 2025
The government is seeking to request the European Commission to activate the national derogation clause in order to invest in defense without affecting budgetary rules, as announced by the Ministry of Finance this Wednesday in a statement sent to newsrooms.
