In Braga, during the opening of IL’s National Council, Rui Rocha accused the government of the AD – Democratic Alliance (PSD/CDS-PP) of further increasing the tax burden, which he noted had already reached a record under the socialist leadership of António Costa’s administrations.
“We had record tax burdens under António Costa’s governments. But what happened with the recent data on the 2024 tax burden? It went up,” he pointed out.
According to Rui Rocha, only IL has the courage, capacity, and vision to assert that the nation needs more economic freedom and lower taxes for its citizens to achieve growth.
“And we will do that,” he emphasized.
Reflecting on António Costa’s tenure, the leader referred to a state consistently hindering personal and business economic freedom due to bureaucracy and the tax burden.
“The reality is that we know what the PCP, the Left Bloc, and the PS have done to the country in past legislatures […]. Nevertheless, it’s also true that the AD did very little to reverse this situation. Therefore, the Liberal Initiative is the only real proposal for change needed to address what must be changed,” he remarked.
In addition to economic growth, the party’s electoral program will focus on modernizing the state and restoring confidence in institutions.
In this regard, Rui Rocha assured that IL’s campaign will concentrate on presenting proposals for the country, moving away from “petty politics” involving scandals, posters, and personalities.
“They talk about Luís Montenegro’s issues, but I want to speak about the lives of the Portuguese. They discuss Luís Montenegro’s businesses, but I wish to address how Portuguese businesses can grow. They talk about Luís Montenegro’s money, but I want to discuss the money that remains or doesn’t in the pockets of Portuguese people at the end of the month. They refer to the education of Luís Montenegro’s children, but I want to focus on the education of Portuguese children. They talk about the economic activities of Montenegro’s children, and I want to talk about the future professions of Portuguese children,” he stated.
Winning the elections on May 18, he indicated, is IL’s goal, yet based on its own proposals and not “the failings of others.”
“I want to win the next elections for the Liberal Initiative, but I wish to win those elections through our merit, our people, our ideas, our vision for the country […]. I don’t want to win an election based on the failure of others. I want to win this election because I’m convinced we have the best candidates, the top list leaders, and the best electoral program to present to the Portuguese,” he added.
On the issue of modernizing the state, Rui Rocha aims for increased efficacy, efficiency, and transparency, advocating for a “lighter and more agile” administration.
“A heavy state prevents us from moving faster, running, accelerating. Hence, we want to bring effectiveness and efficiency to the Portuguese state,” he stated.
In his perspective, it is essential to evaluate public servants for their competencies, outcomes, and contributions to the country.
“Public servants must have the right to be assessed based on their skills, their results, and what they deliver to the country. It is inadmissible for those who achieve outcomes, who produce, who contribute to the country, to earn the same at the end of the month as those who do nothing,” he underlined.
Rui Rocha considered that in the last legislative elections, the party was disadvantaged by the strategic vote, but expressed confidence that this time, the Portuguese vote will be “liberal.”
For the May legislative elections, Rui Rocha will lead the list in Braga, the city of his birth.
