Sertã, Portugal, Aug. 27, 2025 (Lusa) - The secretary-general of the PS stated on Wednesday that reducing company tax is a priority; however, doing so without criteria does not align with the economic policy of developing the interior.
"Reducing [company tax] must be a priority. The end of tolls on the A23 is another very important example for companies. It was a PS measure and is an example that can serve as an illustration for the country's development," said José Luís Carneiro.
The socialist leader was speaking to journalists at the end of a visit to a bioenergy and pallet company located in Sertã, Castelo Branco district, as part of the route along National Road (EN) 2 "For Cohesion and Valorisation of the Territory".
"Lower corporate income tax for companies in the interior is a good way of reducing corporate income tax. Reducing it for everyone, without criteria, does not favour an economic policy for developing the interior and cohesion," he said.
José Luís Carneiro considered the Sertaginense company to be one of the examples that can illustrate what can be done in the country to valorise local resources.
"This is a company that is internationalised and that transforms the territory's resources into economic and employment opportunities and into improving people's living conditions," he said.
Asked about the statements made by Economy Minister Castro Almeida in an interview with RTP3, in which he argued that the government is "manifestly more committed" to putting an end to the fires than the PS was, José Luís Carneiro spoke of "ignorance". "I'd suggest you look at the figures for 2022 and 2023 and read the international reports that showed that our Civil Protection system was among the best in the European Union," he said.
As for Castro Almeida's statements at the PSD's Summer University in Castelo de Vide, emphasising that his government wanted to establish a 15% income tax ceiling for young people and that the PS prevented it, the PS secretary-general stressed that it was the PS led by António Costa that created the income tax rate for young people.
"It was the PS government that created the personal income tax for young people. We even understand that there could be an increased reduction in the income tax for young people in low-density territories who work in the interior," he defended.
Asked by journalists what he expects from today's debate in parliament, José Luís Carneiro said that the most important thing that will come out of this discussion is something that no one will ever forget: "While the country was burning and the people were feeling abandoned, the PSD was holding a party in Pontal".
For the Socialist leader, "it's incomprehensible that they didn't postpone a party when the country was going through difficulties".
CCC/ADB // ADB.
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