The socialists have decided to abstain in Friday’s vote and are open to presenting amendments during the specific discussion, a PS source confirmed, underscoring the necessity of considering social justice in this measure.
This morning, following the PS Parliamentary Group meeting, PS Secretary-General José Luís Carneiro informed journalists that the socialists would either vote in favor or abstain regarding the Government’s proposal to reduce IRS.
Regarding potential amendments during the specific discussion, the PS leader had previously left this option open, deferring the response to a “more appropriate time.”
José Luís Carneiro emphasized that the socialists support “the reduction of the tax burden on labor” and that this particular proposal “should correspond to social justice” as “the Government cannot claim to reduce IRS while covertly increasing ISP.”
On Friday, parliament will discuss the Government’s proposal for an IRS reduction amounting to 500 million euros, to be implemented later this year.
The Council of Ministers, in a statement, highlighted that the approved proposal “enables further relief from the tax burden by additionally reducing marginal rates in all brackets, up to the 8th bracket.”
Last week, in an initial reaction to this measure and while still a candidate for PS leadership, José Luís Carneiro expressed support for the IRS reduction but stated that he awaited the proposal’s discussion in parliament, cautioning that public accounts and social justice must be safeguarded.
“We are in favor of tax cuts, a reduction of taxes, but now we must see, during parliamentary discussion, the terms in which it will be executed as we also need to maintain stable public accounts and healthy public finances,” he stated.
José Luís Carneiro made these remarks to journalists upon entering a campaign event at SEDES in Lisbon, after being queried about the Government’s proposal for an additional IRS reduction of 500 million euros, to be executed this year.
