PAN position follows “irrevocable decision” to veto announced by CHEGA
PAN – one of Portugal’s ‘smallest parties’ – has declared that it will vote against the State Budget for 2025 (OE2025) because it considers the document presents ‘worrying reversals’ in ‘several crucial areas’.
A statement from the party, delivered shortly after CHEGA leader André Ventura announced that his party (currently the country’s third political force) cannot vote in favour of a document that he describes as a “disaster”, saw PAN reiterate its commitment to the fight for animal rights, environmental protection and the improvement of people’s living conditions – all of which, according to party spokesperson Inês Sousa Real, are jeopardised by the AD coalition’s plan for the coming year.
Accusing the document of presenting worrying reversals in several crucial areas, Ms Sousa Real said: “It is unacceptable that in just over six months Luís Montenegro’s government has reversed almost a decade of policies related to animal protection and welfare by eliminating from the budget support provided to local councils, animal protection associations and families in need”.
The budget “completely eliminates funds dedicated to the animal cause”, which in 2024 “amounted to €13.2 million”.
It is a move, that if the budget gets approval, will put associations and municipalities “under extreme pressure, limiting capture, sterilisation and return (CED) policies and support for the neediest populations”.
With regard to the environment, PAN believes the budget “continues to fail to comply with the Climate Law.
“It doesn’t foresee the carbon impact of proposed climate measures and reduces funding for climate policy by 23.22%”, says the statement – adding that “the proposed climate transition penalises families with the unfreezing of the carbon tax, which will cost them €525 million a year, while large polluting companies continue to benefit from tax exemptions”.
As for the municipal emergency fund, it “remains at the same €6 million – ignoring the damage caused by extreme phenomena such as floods and fires”.
PAN also pointed out that the budget meets, “although not in full”, the party’s proposals, such as the new IRS Jovem regime and the revision of the IRS brackets. However, these “are clearly insufficient”, and “fall short of the accumulated inflation of recent years. They also do not cover young people considered dependent (still on their parents’ IRS tax returns), creating a false fiscal emancipation”.
With regard to housing, PAN believes the budget fails to respond to the urgent needs of families.
“We will remain firm, determined and uncompromising in the defence of these essential values to build a fairer, more sustainable and compassionate country,” said Inês Sousa Real in perhaps the first statement that explains exactly WHY the budget is being so slated by opposition parties.
CHEGA’s “disaster” description was nothing like as explanatory.
Lusa adds that PAN indicated its opposition to the budget when it was presented. The party has now simply elaborated on all the why’s and wherefore’s.
Source: LUSA
