António Cotrim / Lusa
The Secretary General of the Socialist Party (PS), Pedro Nuno Santos
Pedro Nuno Santos launched the basis of the program this Friday and recalled: The Montenegro case is not closed.
The Socialist Party (PS) has already entered the campaign mode, with Pedro Nuno Santos announced this Friday the five priority areas of the party with a view to early May 18.
Improvement of salaries, housing, defense and foreign policy, environment and climate transition, and justice are the priorities and main themes of the debates taking place in the 5 sectoral sessions between March 26 and 1 April.
Increased income: central priority
“We have too many Portuguese to gain around 1,000 euros with great difficulties in reaching the end of the month and, throughout this year, we have not seen anything relevant to improved income,” criticized Pedro Nuno Santos, stressing that the current multiannual agreement for salary appreciation, established by the previous government, proved “insufficient” in the face of the difficulties felt by families.
The previous pact provided for a national minimum wage of 1,020 euros by 2028, but the socialist leader wants to go further.
Accessible housing for the middle class
The PS wants a broader housing policy, which goes beyond support to the most needy families and also includes solutions for the middle class. The lack of affordable housing is “one of the biggest national dramas,” said Pedro Nuno, who said that Portugal recorded the highest housing prices in the last decade, which aggravated the problem of accessibility and made it urgent to implement effective measures to increase the supply of housing at comportable prices.
Defense and foreign policy
Investment in defense and foreign policy also emerges as one of the priority areas. The socialist leader criticized that the area has been “devalued by the Prime Minister” the posture of the current prime minister, Luís Montenegro, at a time when the European Union encourages Member States to reinforce their defense investments. Pedro Nuno Santos recalled that the EU provided a financial package of 150 billion euros, as well as flexing the budget rules to support this joint effort.
Climatic transition
“Climate policy does not have to be the opponent of a fair life, it can be an opportunity for development,” said the PS leader. It has pledged to present proposals that articulate the fight against climate change with the creation of wealth and well-being for citizens.
Justice, ethics and internal security
The PS promises to discuss solutions to accelerate legal proceedings, reinforce transparency and ensure greater proximity to security forces to populations. Pedro Nuno Santos pointed out that “a less safe country is a less free country” and reaffirmed PS’s commitment to proximity policing.
