Lisbon, Oct. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The prime minister announced on Friday that Portuguese exports rose by 6.8% in August and dismissed any concerns about sustained growth in long-term expenditure, stating that the situation is «completely balanced».
Luís Montenegro was speaking during the fortnightly debate in parliament, in response to the leader of the Liberals (IL), Mariana Leitão, who questioned the increase in expenditure forecast in the 2027 draft state budget and considered the reduction in personal income tax (IRS) to be insufficient.
«As if on cue, just as you were raising this point with me, I have just been informed that Portuguese exports rose by 6.8% in August. As you know, they had already risen by 10.5% in July and 7.8% the month before,» said the head of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition government.
«I am sharing this news with you because I know you are pleased with this performance of our economy and that our economic growth is also underpinned by this factor,» he added.
As regards government expenditure, according to the prime minister, there is no cause for concern: «We have primary current expenditure completely under control. It is more or less at the same levels as it was in 2024.» Montenegro then pointed out that «the revision of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)» is still pending, which «may still have an impact given its relative position in terms of output».
«The nominal increase in expenditure relates to investment decisions. Almost 50% of this increase is accounted for precisely by investment – investment that had been shelved. And the same proportion is due to temporary measures, which do not place a permanent burden on government expenditure in the future,» he said.
«We are therefore in a completely balanced situation,» he declared.
On Thursday, in an initial reaction to the IL's proposal on the 2027 draft state budget, the party's parliamentary leader, Mário Amorim Lopes, stated that «a vote against is very likely» if the PSD/CDS-PP Government «is not prepared to cap expenditure growth».
Today, the IL leader returned to the subject during the fortnightly debate.
Addressing Montenegro, she said: «Since you became prime minister, expenditure has risen by €20 billion. Of what is forecast for next year, primary current expenditure – that is, excluding public investment, debt interest and the PRR – continues to grow faster than GDP.» She criticised the prime minister for «allowing the State to spend more than the country produces» and argued that income tax is set to fall «far less than what people actually need».
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