The main proposals for amendments to the State Budget for 2026, validated over four days of voting in the specialty, include toll exemptions, the freezing of higher education tuition fees, increased supplements for veterans, patrol or round supplements for the GNR and PSP, and a reduction of VAT on art sales.
The ruling coalition parties secured more victories, with 41 proposals from PSD and CDS-PP approved, often to correct the original document’s lapses, while the opposition validated a total of 122 initiatives in the specialty phase.
The PS was the opposition party with the most approved proposals, totaling 31, followed by the PCP with 22, Chega with 20, and PAN with 19.
Livre approved 17 initiatives, BE eight, Iniciativa Liberal three, and the JPP, debuting in the budget process, saw two proposals partially approved.
The impact on the budget of the approved proposals remains unacknowledged by the Government. However, PS parliamentary group calculations, accessed by Lusa, provide cost estimates for some key initiatives.
The Socialist bloc estimates the toll exemptions will have an impact of around 35 million euros, with 15 million for A6 and A2, 10 million for A41 CREP and A8/A19, and 10 million for the A15 gate in Aveiro.
The PS parliamentary group projects a 15.5 million euro impact for updating the veterans’ special pension supplement in 2026 and 7.5 million for updating the PSP and GNR patrol supplement in 2026.
Here are some of the main approved measures:
PSD/CDS-PP
The supporting parties presented few amendments, most of which were approved, including a proposal for the Government to advance procedures for new public-private partnerships (PPP) in the National Health Service (SNS) and reducing VAT on game meat sales from 23% to 6%.
However, a proposal to index tuition fee increases to inflation was not approved. Instead, the opposition endorsed a PS proposal to freeze these fees.
Chega
Chega saw two dozen proposals approved, notably an increase of 1.6 million euros for the Constitutional Court, requested during a parliamentary hearing, and a revision of the rules for issuing residence certificates for foreign citizens, limiting the number of certificates per household.
Also highlighted are initiatives to reduce VAT on art transactions from 23% to 6%, similar to a PS proposal, and the creation of a mental health voucher when SNS cannot meet maximum response times in psychiatry or psychology.
PS
Securing 31 victories in this voting marathon, PS’s significant achievements include full toll exemptions on the A25 in Costa da Prata and Beiras Litoral and Alta, and on sections of the A6 and A2 in Alentejo, as well as exemption from heavy vehicle tolls on the Porto Outer Ring Road (A41) and parts of A19 and A8 in Leiria region.
The proposals faced opposition from PSD and CDS-PP after the Government warned of the costs, with the Technical Budget Support Unit estimating the A6 and A2 exemptions for 2026 would result in a loss of 17.9 million euros if changes start in April or 23.8 million euros if they begin in January.
PS also saw an amendment approved to keep tuition fees frozen at 697 euros for the 2026/2027 academic year, following a voting change by Chega.
Other initiatives include a support program for Portuguese doctors abroad wishing to return to work in SNS, offering fiscal and financial incentives and immediate access to the Regressar Program, and a proposal setting a 60-day maximum deadline for central administration to pay municipalities for delegated competencies from next year.
IL
Iniciativa Liberal had three proposals approved, including support for sports associations for people with disabilities, VAT exemption for adapted vehicles by institutions, and exemption from the Vehicle Tax for adapted vehicles from nonprofit sports associations and federations.
Livre
Livre approved 17 measures, including the adoption of a new Anti-Corruption National Strategy cycle for 2025-2028 with an action plan ensuring its monitoring.
Also envisioned is a 1-to-500 psychologist-to-student ratio in public schools, a definitive Independent Living Support model in Portugal, and a national strategy to fight poverty from 2027-2030. Approved as well was an initiative for the Government to resume negotiations with Spain to reactivate international Portugal-Spain night trains.
PCP
The communist bloc had 22 initiatives approved, including several for the Government to complete infrastructures nationwide, such as the modernization of the Western railway line or the doubling of IP3 between Coimbra and Santa Comba Dão.
Another communist-approved initiative presses the Government to launch the Third Tagus Crossing, advancing in 2026 with “necessary measures to implement” the Barreiro to Lisbon road-rail link.
BE
BE saw eight proposals validated, including one mandating that the Government present a National Strategy for Menopause Rights in the first half of the next year.
Another approved BE proposal ensures the creation, within six months, of a multi-annual public investment plan in the autonomous regions, detailing each investment’s value and execution timeline, allowing “verification of Government compliance” concerning island investments.
PAN
PAN secured 19 measures, notably a proposal binding parish councils to approve and implement, in 2026, “multi-annual plans promoting companion animals’ welfare, in coordination with municipal services and local animal welfare associations.”
JPP
Despite debuting in the budget process, JPP, whose deputy did not participate in the specialty votes due to the lack of a committee seat, saw two proposals partially approved, concerning ‘bodycams’ and CCTV in police facilities and judicial buildings in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
