During the first day of the general debate on the State Budget for 2026 at the Assembly of the Republic, Mariana Leitão’s criticisms were presented to justify the IL’s vote against the Government’s proposal, which is expected to pass with the PS’s abstention.
Mariana Leitão, elected as the IL’s leader in July after Rui Rocha’s departure, argued that the State Budget “demands more” in taxes contrary to what was announced, increases the size of the state machinery instead of reforming it, and “delays decisions” in housing, leaving the sector with “stalled projects, non-existent houses, and rising prices.”
“Prime Minister, I ask you: Until when? Until when will we delay Portugal? How long must the Portuguese wait for measures to address their issues? Enough with media tactics. Stop trying to govern for television, govern for the Portuguese,” Mariana Leitão stated.
In response, Luís Montenegro criticized the IL’s leader’s intervention, considering it inappropriate for “a serious debate” and not acknowledging the Government’s actions in the housing sector. “The works are underway, being inaugurated. Frankly, more cannot be done,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister, who is also the PSD president, accused Mariana Leitão of having “a discourse more typical of those on the extreme ends of the political spectrum.”
“You are radicalizing the IL,” he said.
“Madam Deputy, frankly, the IL is aligning with a more radical perspective in its political intervention. I respect it, but it is truly radical. Radical in discourse, radical in action, and it will be radical in its decision on the State Budget,” he emphasized.
Luís Montenegro added that the evaluation of this path and strategy is left to “the scrutiny of the Portuguese people” and that “some time from now,” they will discuss “whether the Portuguese appreciate this role and intervention of the IL in the political system.”
A year ago, the IL also voted against the State Budget proposal for 2025, both in the general and final global vote. The previous PSD/CDS-PP administration’s proposal was enabled by the PS’s abstention, with all other opposition parties voting against it.
Now, in the debate on the 2026 Budget, presented by the second government led by Luís Montenegro, Mariana Leitão described the promise of state reform as “an illusion that will be very costly to the Portuguese, with current spending increasing by over 5 billion euros.”
In terms of fiscal policy, she claimed that “the State has never collected so much” in taxes “in real terms,” highlighting: “We have the reversal of the ISP discount. We have VAT and consumption taxes swelling with inflation. We have IRS brackets increasing less than wages, and the IMT brackets are being updated by only 2%, while house prices soar above 10%.”
The Prime Minister countered that “the fiscal and contributory burden will decrease” and urged Mariana Leitão “not to say it’s a lie,” because “it is factual.”
“The IL has every context to be demanding with the Government and do its opposition work, but the proposal here is one of denial, and I regret it,” he commented.
The Budget proposal will be voted on in general on Tuesday. The final global vote is scheduled for November 27, following the specialized debate process.
[Updated at 17:58]
