After visiting a metallurgy company in Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro district, Rui Rocha addressed journalists regarding Luís Montenegro’s recent comments on housing policy. Montenegro noted earlier that afternoon that he does not abide by a liberal approach in housing measures, emphasizing the importance of state intervention, as “the market does not solve everything.”
In response, IL leader Rui Rocha remarked, “We had already realized that Luís Montenegro is not liberal, and we had already understood that AD’s housing policies are ineffective. These policies have led to increased prices due to heightened demand without taking necessary measures to boost supply,” he commented.
Rocha defended his party’s policies on housing, stating, “Our housing policies are correct.” He emphasized that both PS and AD policies are failing in this regard.
“It is time for the Portuguese to empower IL, allowing us to address housing issues because under AD, what was already problematic under PS worsens,” he argued.
The IL leader accused AD of failing to adopt construction measures that would bring more homes to the market and criticized their inattention to the rental market.
When asked if housing measures would be non-negotiable in a potential postelection agreement with AD, Rocha affirmed that his party would be “tremendously demanding” on these matters.
“We will not tolerate a continuation of political dialogue that promises outcomes we know will not materialize. Thus, when we insist on reducing VAT on construction — which AD didn’t do — to increase housing supply, it is non-negotiable for us. We will not relinquish this stance,” he asserted.
He continued by stating that improvements in the rental market are also necessary, including quicker judicial processes and reduced taxation on rental income, ensuring that “many unoccupied homes” will enter the market.
“These are our demands; whether called objectives or requirements, that is up to interpretation,” he said.
Addressing criticism from Pedro Nuno Santos that a government between IL and AD would endanger social welfare, Rocha recollected being targeted by leftist attacks, even including Chega leader André Ventura.
“The complete group is assembled, the entire left: the dirigists, the statists, the spendthrifts, they’re all there. This signifies that IL is truly the only party aiming to change the country, which is why it bothers the left so much, from socialists to communists, from André Ventura to Paulo Raimundo,” he commented.
During his visit to an aluminum casting company, whose primary export market is the United States, Rocha was informed of the challenges posed by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and used the occasion to critique André Ventura.
“It deeply shocks me that in a country like Portugal, there are those who defend Mr. Trump instead of prioritizing the interests of Portugal and the Portuguese,” he stated, adding that anyone who supports Trump’s policies shows “little sensitivity to the interests of the Portuguese and small business owners.”
“It is completely unacceptable (…) and it is necessary to question whether they stand with the Portuguese, small business owners, and consumers, or with Mr. Trump?” he challenged.
