Given the lack of agreement with the socialists on the drop in the IRC, the AD announced that it will resume the original proposal, a two percentage point drop in the tax, if the PS disapproves of a one point drop. The objective is to pressure the PT member to enable a drop of at least one point, forcing into the votes exactly the measure that led the two to fail to reach an agreement, during negotiations in October.
Confused? It is a complex move with votes, proposals presented and calls to plenary (bringing up the issue after it has been discussed in the specialized committee) that we try to explain.
The amendment proposals are voted on first, before the rule contained in the government’s bill is voted on, which means that the first proposal to be voted on is the two-point drop, which the parties on the right and now also the PSD will present. In this first vote, Social Democrats vote against their own proposal. However, if the PS votes against dropping one IRC point contained in the Budget law proposal (the last to be voted on) and the measure falls apart (it can be saved by Chega even now without incentives), So the Social Democrats present their 2-point amendment proposal to the plenarywhich is voted on again, and this time with a vote in favor. With the guarantee that IL and Chega will vote in favor of any tax reductionthe proposal that provides for a two-point reduction in the rate on corporate income, would be approved.
The leader of the PSD parliamentary bench guarantees that This is not a political move and explained the strategy: “Unless there is a clear public announcement from all parties saying how they vote to reduce the Government’s proposal by one percentage point, we vote against our own proposal of two percentage points”.
Hugo Soares added that the expectation is that the reduction foreseen by the Government will be approved, but if the PS does not comply with this commitment that was attempted in exchange for abstention in the Budget, so the PSD raises its proposal and votes in favor “so that we do not give up on a decline in IRC in Portugal”, explained.
AD advances with measure to end cuts in politicians’ salaries
At the press conference to announce the proposed changes to the State Budget for 2025, Hugo Soares also confirmed the news already advanced by Expresso that he will propose an end to the 5% cut in politicians’ salaries: “It seems to me that there is no reason why someone who holds public positions in council, chambers or at a higher level should continue to have a salary cut. We are not talking about an increase”he stressed.
It is the only cut that remains from the times of the troika and the AD considers it “symbolic and very worthy” that PSD and CDS take the initiative: “We have this courage, we have no problem fighting any type of populism”, stated the leader of the Social Democratic bench.
Source: expresso.pt
