“[I agree] absolutely. (…) The first reason I presented to run for office was the idea of stability. Generally speaking, instability is only created when budgets fail. My first priority is to help, when I am President of the Republic, to ensure that the upcoming budgets achieve the same positive outcome as this one,” he stated after being questioned about Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s remarks that “there is no reason” for the approval of future state budgets to be complicated.
Marques Mendes was speaking to journalists at the premises of the Crevide institution in Moscavide, Loures, while the Assembly of the Republic was concluding the general debate on the State Budget proposal for 2026, which is guaranteed passage with the PS’s announced abstention.
Luís Marques Mendes emphasized that approving the State Budget is “very important,” highlighting that if Portugal does not experience stability over the next four years, the country will “lose a lot.”
“We will have less economy, less disposable income, less money for retirement pensions, and fewer conditions to support the social state,” he considered.
The PSD-supported presidential candidate further stated that “stability is not an issue for politicians,” as they “live well with or without stability,” whether in government or in opposition.
“Those who lose are the people. And among the people, it is those supported by these institutions who suffer. The elderly, pensioners, retirees, and children. That’s why stability is not as decisive a matter for politicians. It is indeed crucial for the people,” he asserted.
The Assembly of the Republic will approve today, in general, the Government’s State Budget proposal for 2026, which will pass with the PSD and CDS-PP votes and the PS abstention.
The document will be approved after a day and a half of debate in general.
The budget will have votes against from the IL, PCP, and the sole deputy of BE, Mariana Mortágua. The single deputies from PAN and JPP will abstain. Chega and Livre have not yet announced their voting intentions.
