The Lisbon lead candidate for the Volt party stated that “the great elephant in the room” is Europe, highlighting the lack of serious debate in the parliament on European issues, which are crucial for Portugal. This statement was made during a campaign event outside the Portuguese Assembly, coinciding with Europe Day, where the party showcased an inflatable elephant.
The party advocates for the establishment of a European Ministry of Finance, aiming to secure independent funding for the European Union, particularly through contributions from large multinational corporations.
“This is a progressive path,” the candidate noted, emphasizing the need for European-level taxation mechanisms that ensure “large multinationals, especially in the digital technology sector, pay their fair share of taxes.” This would enable the European Union to have resources for significant investment needs, such as digital and climate transitions or infrastructure projects.
The Volt co-president criticized the current “defense investment model,” calling it inefficient due to its reliance on national budgets and the absence of bold reforms to the European Union treaties.
The party proposes the formation of a European Army, which would invest “at scale” in the specialization of armed forces in each country. This army would operate “within NATO” without diverting “essential funds from national investments in education, health, and housing.”
“Having European Armed Forces within NATO is a way to align NATO more closely with European interests, rather than being wholly dependent on the United States. This approach serves our interests and means having a more active role in conflict mediation and prevention,” stated Duarte Costa during a gathering of lead candidates for various electoral districts, such as Setúbal, Porto, and Évora.
Responding to questions about how the Portuguese Armed Forces might receive this proposal, the co-president expressed confidence that those dedicated to defense and innovation in Portugal would “enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to integrate with armed forces featuring enhanced technological, investment, specialization, and mobilization capabilities.”
Regarding Palestine, Duarte Costa assured that the party holds “a very clear position” advocating for “the defense of human rights” and international law, urging the European Union to act “courageously” and reminding that “International Criminal Court arrest warrants must be observed.”
Volt is set to enter the race in 20 of the 22 electoral districts for the May 18 elections. In the 2024 legislative elections, the party received 0.18% of the vote, totaling 11,854 votes.
