The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, commented on Thursday on the state of the national debate and some of the measures announced, particularly the extraordinary supplement for all pensions up to 1,567.50 euros announced by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
“It is extraordinary support given in September, but it is withdrawn in January,” he said in an interview with CNN Portugal, demonstrating the calculations: “For pensions of 600 euros, we are talking about 36 cents per day. In other words, it pays for a coffee every three days. For pensions of a thousand euros, it gives 23 cents per day. That’s what we’re talking about.”
Criticizing the proposal, José Luís Carneiro stated: “Even so, the government thought it should use this electoral tool to then take it away in January.”
Regarding this announced supplement, which will be approved in the Council of Ministers on Friday, Carneiro said the Executive could count on the support of the socialists for another measure: “The PS is available to support a permanent increase in the social old-age pensions, which are the lowest. There are people living with around 300 euros a month. How?”
“We are willing to look at these pensions and have a structured and permanent increase,” he reinforced.
During the interview, Carneiro also spoke of “maneuvers” the Executive is conducting with Chega. “These maneuvers that the government has been developing along with Chega are aimed at distracting our citizens from the lack of response in public policies,” he said, recalling that the “leader of the far-right party” spoke of a principle of agreement last week, which Montenegro said he was unaware of on Thursday afternoon.
“The prime minister denied any agreement. Now, I would say they have to explain. The prime minister has to explain,” he pointed out in the same interview.
Confronted with the statements he made this week, particularly regarding a potential rupture between the PS and the Social Democratic Party, he clarified: “There are areas of democratic convergence, including foreign policy, Europe, relations with Portuguese-speaking African countries, the relationship with the Atlantic, and Brazil. The options being made jeopardize a common historical positioning among the PS, PSD, and even CDS because we were the builders of national foreign policy priorities.”
On the other hand, Carneiro recalled that he also mentioned the PS was willing to cooperate with the government in various areas, such as Justice, Defense, and others: “Not only did I say it, but I have practiced it. A few days ago, I sent a proposal to the prime minister outlining the fundamental lines regarding which, in the area of Defense, the country needs to make a tremendous effort – and we can cooperate.”
Criticizing further the vote on the amendment of the foreigners’ law, José Luís Carneiro spoke of the AD’s position with “its majority”: “They imposed this vote, which went as far as not hearing the opinions of higher courts […]. If the government is acting in good faith, if the AD is in good faith, why did they not wait for the opinions of those who will then be responsible for administering the law?”
Furthermore, the socialist leader continued, referring to a matter like the 120,000 residence permits, among others: “Because the AD has failed: in numbers, in data. It is based on the falsification of data – which we will have the opportunity to demonstrate – that it has been working on perceptions.”
On immigration matters, Carneiro also spoke about operations linked to the Public Security Police and the National Republican Guard: “Today, everyone is proud of the operations that the PJ is carrying out to dismantle organized crime networks associated with immigration. And do you know why the Judicial Police are conducting these operations today? Because it was the Socialist Party government that empowered the Judicial Police.”
