Bitter budget marathon begins today, with government’s back against wall
Portugal Resident
‘Government calls on opposition not to distort budget proposal’
A bitter budget showdown begins today in parliament, with Portugal’s AD coalition government trying every way it can to insist its budget proposal is “good for the country” but cannot be ‘distorted’ to take on extra expenses, while the opposition appears intent on making it do just that – and poking holes in all the official narratives.
As CNN Portugal admits, “without a majority in parliament, the AD coalition (formed by the PSD and CDS-PP) could be faced with approving measures because of the way various opposition parties choose to vote”.
For example, not for the first time, far right CHEGA has teamed up with PS Socialists to try and force increases to pensions that the government did not envisage. This unlikely partnership has already forced the government to axe motorway tolls on former SCUT highways (implying huge extra costs) and played havoc with intentions for income tax reform.
Thus while executive sources are appealing today to allow the budget ‘through’ its final reading at the end of the month – arguing that “it strengthens the functions of the welfare state, public services, and accelerates the growth dynamic within a framework of financial and budgetary responsibility”, opposition forces appear much more focused on their own agendas.
Indeed, there are even spats ongoing about how much the government is ‘over-egging’ its achievements this far, with critics crying “manipulation!”
Today’s front page story in Expresso announces “the number of pupils without classes falls 90% compared to last year”. There is a section also for ‘good and bad’ results over the last week, with education minister Fernando Alexandre taking top slot for the ‘good’. But PS Socialists claim this is all nonsense: politicking of the most expedient kind.
And the truth? Well that truly depends with which parliamentary group one stands.
The problem with everything ongoing right now is that the country’s future will depend on what is left after all the political maneuvering. When the dust settles, will the country have a budget? Will the country have a government? Or will there be the prospect of the 3rd legislative elections in three years when the wider world is teetering towards increasing global conflict?
Certainly, centre-right AD believe this is a budget that keeps accounts balanced, and public debt on a downward path. Mess with it too much, and everything could be thrown into confusion.
Appealing to parties to understand this bottom line, José Maria Brandão de Brito, Assistant Secretary of State for the Budget, has stressed the proposal, as it is, is “indispensable for the resilience of the Portuguese economy to adverse shocks”.
Whether his viewpoint cuts any ice, is the big question.
CNN adds that parties this time round have “beaten the record” when it comes to amendments submitted to this budget proposal. There are more than 2,100 of them that need to be voted on, paragraph by paragraph, in the marathon that begins today, and ends on November 30.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
The post Bitter budget marathon begins today, with government’s back against wall appeared first on Portugal Resident written by Natasha Donn
