This statement was delivered to journalists by PAN spokesperson and sole deputy Inês de Sousa Real at the conclusion of a meeting with the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos Abreu Amorim, at the Assembly of the Republic.
Inês de Sousa Real stated that the document submitted today by PAN to the PSD/CDS-PP Government includes “some concerns, particularly regarding family expenses, deductions, for example, related to mortgage interest, and deductions on IRS with other expenses that are currently not feasible.”
PAN considers it essential for the Government to “reduce the VAT on veterinary medical services” and, concerning forest protection, advocates “a pilot project in Portugal involving an investment of 10 million euros in artificial intelligence mechanisms that can swiftly identify and detect fires,” she noted.
“For PAN, it makes more sense to invest in forest defense rather than national defense, as we have seen in the Government’s objectives,” Inês de Sousa Real stated.
The PAN spokesperson also highlighted their proposals to “support victims of domestic violence by extending the leave for family restructuring from 10 to 30 days,” as well as support for “humanitarian firefighter associations” and “transitioning mobility,” reiterating their opposition to “financing fossil fuels.”
In response to journalists, Inês de Sousa Real remarked that “it is still too early” to define a voting stance concerning the State Budget for 2026, arguing that she is not yet familiar with “the Government’s vision for the Budget,” only “a macroeconomic perspective” which she believes holds an “optimistic forecast” regarding deficit reduction.
“Regardless, we have committed to not giving up on the general welfare of the Portuguese people and to continuing our contributions as we have done every year, regardless of who governs the country,” she added.
The Government has been meeting with parliamentary parties to discuss the State Budget for 2026 and other topics, such as the potential recognition of the State of Palestine and amendments to nationality and foreigner laws.
Inês de Sousa Real expressed support for “the recognition of the two States, [Israel and] Palestine,” and regarding the legislative framework concerning immigrants, reiterated the “concern that the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) are effectively integrated and that there is no break with the existing connection with the CPLP.”
