The PSD president defended today that the Government should tear up the “More Housing” program and start from scratch to define a housing program for Portugal, with the participation of his party. For Luís Montenegro, «the insistence of the PS», in presenting in Parliament, in September, the program without alterations is «an affront» and a «crime».
In the opinion of the social-democratic leader, the Government made a mistake and, «or does what is required of those who want to govern in favor of the people, [which is] starting from scratch, literally tearing up what it has done so far and starting from scratch a program of housing for Portugal» for the next 20 years or «commits a crime».
“The Government made a mistake. Doctor António Costa has to be humble and tell the country: I made a mistake, I apologize. I'm here to start from scratch. If Doctor António Costa has this humility, I, as leader of the opposition, also have the humility to place myself on the side of the Government, in favor of the Portuguese», said the PSD leader to journalists, in the first reaction after the diploma containing the main measures on housing have been vetoed by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
For Luís Montenegro, in the face of the veto, the PS «either maintains its stubbornness and will confirm in parliament the object of these diplomas and, perhaps, give the country, as the President of the Republic says, something that will not be implemented and that will never be achieved objectives» or «does what is required of anyone who wants to govern in favor of the people, (which is] starting from scratch».
However, the PS has already announced that it will confirm the decree in Parliament and Luís Montenegro's reaction was not mild.
The president of the PSD classified this «insistence of the PS» as «an affront» to the interests of the Portuguese, to the President of the Republic and to the political parties.
«It is a crime that is being committed against Portuguese society, an affront to the interest of young people and the most needy families, of the middle class, it is not wanting to look and verify what we are seeing», Luís Montenegro told journalists, in Bragança.
For the PSD leader, this diploma «will not produce results» and «the insistence and stubbornness» of the PS in maintaining «with arrogance» the diploma after being vetoed by the President of the Republic is «a crime that is being committed Portuguese society».
Montenegro said that he would very much like the Prime Minister to appear «with a dash of lucidity» to say the opposite of what the parliamentary leader of the PS, Eurico Brilhante Dias, said, that the socialist group, which has an absolute majority of deputies, will confirm the diploma on housing vetoed by the President of the Republic.
It is true, said Montenegro, if he becomes prime minister, this diploma will be revoked "to make way for the next two decades for the reform of the housing market".
According to the socialist Eurico Brilhante Dias, taking into account this «urgency in the response to the housing crisis», the PS «right at the beginning of parliamentary work in September» will take «the necessary steps to confirm the diploma of the Mais Habitação program».
For Luís Montenegro, this confirmation of the diploma «is a monumental blunder» and demonstrates that «this Government is not good for Portugal», because it is governing against what are the needs of the Portuguese.
The argument of urgency in responding to the housing crisis used by the PS «if it wasn't a tragedy for the Portuguese, it would be an anecdote», said Montenegro, questioning «what they have been doing in the last eight years» in the Government «to now say that it is an overnight emergency» and reaffirming that the PSD is available to collaborate on a new diploma.
According to Brilhante Dias, the version vetoed by the President of the Republic «was already a reflection of the debate in Portuguese society, with a previous public consultation» and resulted after «a parliamentary debate that led to the PS having approved 13 amendments by the opposition parties ».
The President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa today resorted to the political veto for the 28th time and returned the housing package to the Assembly of the Republic, making a «serene negative analytical judgment».
“I know, and we all know, that the parliamentary absolute majority can repeat, in a few weeks, the approval just voted. But, as will be understood, this is not what can or should prevent the expression of a deep conviction and a serene negative analytical judgment», wrote the President of the Republic in the message that accompanies the veto of the parliamentary diploma.
The decree that brings together the main amendments to the legislation on housing had been approved by parliament on July 19 with only a favorable vote by the PS and under criticism from the opposition to the legislative package that introduced changes in terms of renting, licensing or local accommodation. .
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