José Luís Carneiro, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), stated this Sunday that the government led by Luís Montenegro committed a “betrayal of the voters” by proposing measures not included in its program during the legislative election campaign. He noted that while the PS awaits the State Budget proposal for 2026 (OE2026), stability must be based on social justice.
“After the elections, the government brought forward proposals not included in their electoral program, particularly concerning labor laws. They never mentioned labor laws during the campaign. The government also expressed a desire to amend the Basic Health Law; did anyone hear about this? After the elections, the government introduced proposals it did not bring to the elections. This is called a betrayal of the voters,” said José Luís Carneiro to journalists.
The PS leader suggested that despite everything, Luís Montenegro intends to heed the appeals of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for the “PSD not to forget its roots”.
Carneiro remarked, “Today, the Prime Minister made a point, several times, to say that they still remain the same party. Well, he must show this through policies, not just in statements.”
Nevertheless, the Socialist reinforced that the PS would wait for the OE2026 proposal because it supports “political stability, but it is crucial that stability is based on social justice, dignity for the people, and protection of true social democracy values.”
The Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security rejected the notion that the proposed labor law amendments favor employers and considered granting workers the right to purchase two additional vacation days as “quite beneficial.” She also noted that a generalized increase in this regime “could be a solution but is much more costly for companies.”
Daniela Filipe | 22:54 – 24/07/2025
He declared, “Let it be clear to the Prime Minister: people are not red lines. When we say that the OE cannot support changes in labor laws that harm young people, offend women, and affect the most vulnerable workers, we are not talking about red lines; we are talking about protecting people’s lives, providing them stability, balancing professional and family life, and seeking job stability, particularly for the youth.”
José Luís Carneiro reiterated that the alterations to labor laws proposed by the Government “severely offend the youth, greatly offend women, offend families, and offend the most vulnerable workers,” which is why the PS aims to “defend fundamental values of labor protection and dignity in working conditions.”
“For instance, they foresee that if someone is dismissed, even for an unjust cause, they cannot be reinstated in their professional activity. This is immorality, an unacceptable injustice. Extending fixed-term contracts from two to three years, three to four years, increasing precariousness, is very serious for the young, and terminating a post with the same company able to hire this workforce through outsourcing is casting the young into precariousness. This is not called red lines; it’s called social justice, defense of dignified work, and protection for those who need someone to defend them,” he pointed out.
Note that the Prime Minister stated this Sunday that it would be “very difficult for the opposition to find arguments to doubt the essence of the OE,” urging not to dramatize the approval of the document as a “matter of life or death.”
The official emphasized, however, that the Government would not negotiate “on the basis of any ultimatum or red lines,” but rather “on the basis of moderation and constructive spirit.”
It should be noted that, according to the Budget Framework Law, the Government must draft and present the bill of the State Budget for the next economic year to the Assembly of the Republic by October 10 each year.
In the aftermath of reactions to the removal of the gestational bereavement leave—which grants both parents three days without loss of pay—the government of Luís Montenegro considered the proposed regime “more favorable.” But is it?
Daniela Filipe | 08:19 – 29/07/2025
