Essential views were conveyed by social-democrat Pedro Coelho and Christian-democrat João Almeida during the political statements session of the Standing Committee meeting of the Assembly of the Republic in Portugal.
Both Pedro Coelho and João Almeida highlighted data on the Portuguese economy for 2024, such as the budget surplus of 0.7% and the reduction of public debt to below 95% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), noting that these figures surpassed the Socialist Party’s forecasts.
However, João Almeida extended his critique to former Socialist finance minister and current governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno.
“The Socialist government, when it drafted its 2024 budget, forecasted a surplus of 0.2%, displaying little ambition compared to the more than triple result achieved by the PSD/CDS government. More notable is the Bank of Portugal’s forecast, in its December 2024 report, predicted not a lesser surplus but a 0.1% deficit,” he pointed out.
For João Almeida, the forecast by the institution led by Mário Centeno cannot be characterized by a lack of ambition.
“This is an example of unrealistic catastrophism, which makes no sense,” he said, before concluding that the PSD and CDS-PP enter the May 18 legislative elections “with heads held high.”
Similarly, social-democrat Pedro Coelho compared the economic results of eight years of socialist governments with one year under the PSD/CDS-PP administration.
Pedro Coelho mentioned measures by the PSD/CDS government to alleviate taxes, improve careers, increase salaries, and provide more support to young people in housing policy.
“In just 11 months, the AD government accomplished more for the country than what the socialists and the leftist ‘geringonça’ managed. It achieved this despite being constrained by an opposition that was more interested in seizing power than respecting the mandate given by the voters,” he stated.
The PSD deputy expressed confidence that the early May legislative elections would mirror the results seen in the recent regional elections in the Azores and Madeira.
“In the Azores, in 2023, the PS and Chega joined forces to topple José Manuel Bolieiro’s government, and in 2024 the people chose stability; in Madeira, in January 2025, the PS and Chega censored the good PSD government, but last March, those who censored were themselves censored, losing mandates and votes,” he remarked.
Nationwide, according to Pedro Coelho, “the PS/Chega coalition was a trap from day one.”
“PS chose the party over the people, Chega chose chaos over the country. But the Portuguese, as in the Azores and Madeira, will know how to respond. The facts are our weapons, and the people will be our judge,” he added.
