The former Finance Minister João Leão believes that one of the major challenges for the Government will be “maintaining the balance” of public finances with all the measures already announced.
In statements to CNN Portugal, Leão acknowledged that the Government’s Program “is quite demanding, with very significant measures of revenue reduction.”
“Moreover, the Portuguese economy, despite being in a very positive situation, faces international uncertainties with forecasts of economic slowdown,” said the former official.
The ex-Finance Minister points out that “one of the concerns for the coming years is maintaining the budgetary balance.”
The Government announced its program on Saturday, including measures already included in the AD’s electoral program, such as the reduction of IRS and IRC or an increase in salaries and pensions, alongside new commitments.
Among the main new initiatives is the State reform, which warranted an autonomous ministry in the PSD/CDS-PP Government—also noting that the Government rules out dismissals or salary reductions for public workers—and the intention to amend labor laws, including strike law revision, revising the Health Bases Law, or bringing forward the commitment to invest 2% of GDP in Defense this year.
Enhanced immigration control is another key focus of the second executive led by Luís Montenegro, which includes a new section compared to the document presented before the campaign: a Transformative Agenda, outlining ten priority areas for Government action.
These priorities include income policy, State reform, wealth creation, “regulated immigration,” quality public services complementing the private sector, proximity security, faster justice, responses to the housing crisis, investment in new infrastructures, implementation of the “Water that Unites” project, and a strategic plan to boost defense investment.
On delivering the program, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos Abreu Amorim, stated that beyond seeking stability, the document is a four-year plan intended to “transform the country,” committing to dialogue “with all parties.”
