“We are indeed solving the house’s problems, which were completely neglected during eight years of socialist governance,” stated Paulo Rangel today during the joint hearing on the State Budget for 2026, by the commissions of Budget, Finance, and Public Administration, Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities, and European Affairs.
The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs asserted that the previous governments, led by António Costa, “handled foreign policy, not always with the best guidance—particularly on the issue of European Union enlargement—but did not manage the home front.”
“The enhancement of human resources is the main feature” of the OE2026, which allocates over 234 million euros for personnel expenses, an increase of 9.4% compared to this year, noted Rangel.
This, he emphasized, “does not detract from the priority of foreign policy,” but it requires “a framework of diplomacy and staff that is stabilized and in a fair and sustainable situation, even if not ideal.”
In a subsequent intervention, João Torres (PS) criticized Rangel’s comments.
“It is unbecoming for the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs to appear constantly agitated by the previous governance. It’s unfair, and the responsibility he holds towards the Government, the country, and other countries demands a bit more,” commented the socialist deputy.
In response, Rangel denied and returned the accusation to João Torres.
“It’s like children do, it’s the one who says it that is,” he remarked.
“I know they don’t like it, but it must be said, we have to compare the performances of the Democratic Alliance Government with the previous ones,” he stated.
He also mentioned that, upon arriving at the Palácio das Necessidades, he found “numerous” outstanding quotas of international organizations.
In 2024, the Government regularized these payments and anticipated some due this year and, “because there is budget slack, it will advance in 2025 contributions that were due in 2026.”
“We have budget slack, contrary to what some doom prophets are saying, who are contradicted by European statistics,” he commented.
