The initial topic of today’s debate between Portugal’s PAN and Livre, broadcast on RTP, focused on the differences between the two parties. Inês Sousa Real, spokesperson for PAN, argued that her party has been “an isolated voice for animal protection.”
Sousa Real highlighted that during the 2023/2024 constitutional review process, Livre did not include proposals for animal protection or the cessation of deep-sea mineral extraction.
In response, Rui Tavares expressed that it would be unfair to focus on the differences between PAN and Livre, noting that they have voted together on about 99% of parliamentary initiatives. However, he acknowledged some divergences in climate matters, emphasizing the need for “ecological and progressive parties to grow.”
“Livre advocates for an ecology that broadens rather than narrows,” stated Tavares, suggesting that climate issues should be part of “a vision for the country’s future development.”
Inês Sousa Real countered by noting that Livre, “with four deputies in eleven months, did not schedule a single initiative on environment or ecology.”
“It was a missed opportunity,” Sousa Real summarized, which Tavares disputed, pointing out that his party introduced programs like “3C — Housing, Comfort, and Climate” and the creation of an ecological transport network in low-density areas, which he described as both social and ecological.
“The issue lies precisely in our perspective on ecology. (…) Ecology is not and can never be a niche cause. It must be an integrated vision for the country as a whole,” Tavares argued.
The discussion then shifted to housing, with Rui Tavares advocating for the creation of a National Housing Service (SNH), aiming to ensure the universal right to housing, funded annually by a billion euros through “a tax on extraordinary profits in economic sectors that have benefited from the real estate crisis.”
Inês Sousa Real criticized the housing policies as “one of the greatest failures” of successive governments and urged for the end of the special tax regime for non-habitual residents, proposing measures like reducing VAT for building renovation and securing funding for housing cooperatives.
On healthcare, Rui Tavares argued that the National Health Service (SNS) is currently in a state of “unfair competition” with the private sector, fighting “blindfolded and with one hand tied behind its back,” advocating for transparency of conditions, particularly salaries, between the public and private sectors.
In contrast, Inês Sousa Real announced that PAN proposes full pay for sick leave for cancer patients and the creation of an SNS for animals, funded by “ending public subsidies for bullfighting.”
The issue of domestic violence was also addressed, with Sousa Real stating the need to end the “battle of the sexes” in Portugal. She proposed making rape a public crime and providing state pensions for orphans of domestic violence victims.
Rui Tavares shared the concern, supporting measures like unemployment benefits for domestic violence victims.
Towards the end of the debate, the two leaders were questioned about the Constitutional Court’s decision to declare some regulations of the assisted dying law unconstitutional. Rui Tavares promised to carefully review the ruling and address the court’s concerns, while Sousa Real expressed deep regret over the decision, remarking that the country has already taken too long to regulate euthanasia.
