Lisbon, 15 jul 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's CDS-PP Party MP João Almeida said that the current political cycle gives the government "greater sustainability" and conditions to continue the process of lowering taxes, arguing that this should be the priority of the next state budget.
Speaking to the Lusa news agencyin the context of Thursday's state of the nation debate, the centrist MP argued that the last elections gave the Government "greater sustainability" that will allow it to "continue a very important process of tax relief and income redistribution to the Portuguese people".
João Almeida considered that it is currently possible to "give people better conditions, resolve situations in many professions, particularly in public administration, which have been dragging on for many years" without jeopardising a "path of balance in public accounts".
The centrist said he hoped that the next state budget would also create conditions for "companies to also have further tax relief" so that they "can invest more" and contribute to an increase in the quality of life in Portugal and to young people settling in the country.
João Almeida also referred to the issue of immigration to praise the Government's action in this area and argue that the executive's work aims to "give peace of mind to all those who are here, first and foremost, and those who come legally and respect the rules" of the country.
Regarding the opposition's criticism of the current situation in health, the MP was ironic, considering it "understandable when it comes from the PS" because, he added, no one knows the problems as well "as those who created them".
"The Socialist Party, which left health and the national health service in the worst situation ever, which also led housing to the worst situation ever, knows very well that this problem cannot be solved in a year, and so it is natural that it should talk about it," he said.
Regarding the role of the centrists in the coalition and in government action, João Almeida highlighted the executive's measure to ban mobile phones in schools up to the seventh year, ensuring that the party is "satisfied and motivated" with its role in the executive.
After the parliamentary recess, the CDS-PP will focus its work on discussing the state budget for 2026, with a focus on lowering taxes for companies and individuals so that they have more disposable income, João Almeida said.
"What we really want is to contribute with measures to improve the quality of life of the Portuguese people, and at the beginning of each legislative session, the budget is a very important moment for this, to return income and allow more income to remain in families, so that more people have jobs and those who already have jobs earn even better salaries," he said.
The debate on the state of the nation is scheduled for Thursday, the first since the 25th Constitutional Government took office, and will be attended by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the rest of the government.
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Lusa
